Review article on impact of groundwater contamination due to dumpsites using geophysical and physiochemical methods

Abstract

AbstractDumpsite is a widespread land meant or designed for deposition of waste and unwanted materials from household, institutions, industries or the environment and is generally open or covered with soil layer with or without liner at the bottom. Dump/landfill is a major source of contamination of groundwater. This study is therefore designed to review studies on the impact of groundwater contamination due to dumpsites using geophysical and physiochemical methods. The geophysical methods adopted by the studies under review are Electrical Resistivity, Electromagnetic Induction using Very-Low-Frequency and Seismic Refraction methods. The results obtained using the resistivity methods showed zones or area with low resistivity as leachate plume and fractured subsurface as contaminant pathways. The result was complimented by other geophysical techniques applied. The results obtained with the application of physiochemical analyses of leachate inferred various degrees of severe contamination of groundwater due to organics, salts and heavy metals. As such, consumption of such water is dangerous to human health. The review also showed that age of the dumps and the migration distance of the leachate are important factors that require consideration because of the closer the dumpsite the higher the concentration of the contaminant.