Analysis of Leachate and Water Resource Quality Surrounding Municipal Solid Waste Landfill of Tamellast (Agadir, Morocco)

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the physicochemical characterization and heavy metal testing results carried out for leachate generated by the landfilling of household and similar waste in the Tamellast landfill of Agadir. The surface and groundwater resource (often used as drinking source) samples collected from Tamellast and different water sources wells surrounding the landfill were used to find out the impact of leachate percolation on surface and groundwater quality. The Physico-chemical parameters analyzed were, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Dissolved oxygen, Sodium, Potassium, while biological parameters tested were Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), E.Coli and Coliform tot. The contamination was investigated by measuring the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, As, and Fe). The Electrical Conductivity (EC), COD, BOD, Sodium, Potassium, in leachate were found to be 13180 µs/cm, 3150 mgO2/l, 1000 mgO2/l, 2000 mg/L, and 10700 mg/L, respectively. The concentration in the surrounding dug wells varied from 8.33 – 9.13 mg/L for Dissolved Oxygen, 9.8 – 18 mg/L for potassium, 0.22 – 0.6 mg/L for Fe, and 0.012 – 0.1 mg/L for total Mn. The concentration of Mn, Fe, and other parameters decreased with increasing distance between the landfill and wells.