Heavy metals contamination within restored landfill site in Poland

Abstract

This study was aimed at determination of the influence of an old municipal landfill site on the pollution of soil and groundwater by heavy metals. The impact assessment was conducted on the bases of piezometric recording, laboratory tests and site investigation, which gave information on the contamination level and direction of the pollutant migration. Based on the groundwater monitoring results, maps of heavy metal distribution and migration paths within the landfill surroundings were provided. The monitoring data show improvement in water quality in almost every piezometer after only a few years, since the soil–water protection system, including a vertical barrier and dewatering systems, has been installed at the site. This indicates that the reduction in heavy metals within the vicinity of the landfill is continuously progressing in time. On the basis of the obtained results, the magnitude of variability in pollutant migration and changes in concentration, as well as the efficiency of the vertical barrier, were assessed.