Groundwater Contamination due to Bhalaswa Landfill Site in New Delhi

Sampling and analysis of leachate from Bhalaswa landfill and groundwater samples from nearby locations, clearly indicated the likely contamination of groundwater due to landfill leachate. The results of simulation studies carried out for the migration of Chloride from landfill shows that the simulation results are in consonance with the observed concentration of Chloride in the vicinity of landfill facility. The solid waste disposal system presently being practiced in Delhi consists of mere dumping of wastes generated, at three locations Bhalaswa, Ghazipur, and Okhla without any regard to proper care for the protection of surrounding environment. Bhalaswa landfill site in Delhi, which is being operated as a dump site, is expected to become cause of serious groundwater pollution in its vicinity. The leachate from Bhalaswa landfill was found to be having a high concentration of chlorides, as well as DOC, COD. The present study was undertaken to determine the likely concentrations of principle contaminants in the groundwater over a period of time due to the discharge of such contaminants from landfill leachates to the underlying groundwater. The observed concentration of chlorides in the groundwater within 75m of the radius of landfill facility was found to be in consonance with the simulated concentration of chloride in groundwater considering one dimensional transport model, with finite mass of contaminant source. Governing equation of contaminant transport involving advection and diffusion-dispersion was solved in matlab7.0 using finite difference method.

Authors:

• Bharat Jhamnani
• SK Singh

Keywords:

• Groundwater
• landfill
• leachate
• solid waste.

References:

[1] Henry, J. G., and Heinke, G. W. Environmental Science and
Engineering, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1989.
[2] Chain, E. S. K., and DeWalle, F. B. Sanitary Landfill Leachates and their
Treatment, J. Environ. Eng. Div. (ASCE), 102(2), 1976, 411-431.
[3] Kelley, W. E. Groundwater Pollution Near a Landfill, J. Environ. Eng.
Div. (ASCE), 102(6), 1976, 1189-1199.
[4] Lo, I. M. C. Characteristics and Treatment of Leachates from Domestic
Landfills, Environ. Int., 22(4), 1996, 433-442.
[5] Central Ground Water Board, Annual Report , New Delhi, 1995.
[6] Bear J., Sorek S. and Borisov V. Eulerian- Lagrangian Formulation of
Balance Equations in Porous Media, Numerical Methods for Partial
Differential Equations, 13(5), 1995, 505-530.
[7] Domenico, P.A. and Schwartz, F.W. Physical and Chemical
Hydrogeology, John Wiley & Sons, New York [2nd Ed.], 1998, 506 pp.
[8] Reilly, T.E., Franke, O.L., Buxton, H.T., Bennett, G.D. A Conceptual
Framework for Groundwater Solute Transport Studies with Emphasis on
Physical Mechanisms of Solute Movement, U.S. Geological Survey,
Water-Res. Inv. Rept, 87-4191,1987 44 pp.
[9] Rowe, R.K. and Nadarajah, P. Evaluation of the Hydraulic Conductivity
of Aquitards, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol 30,No 5, 1993,pp
781-800.
[10] Crooks, V.E., and Quigley, R.M. Saline Leachate Migration through
Clay : A Comparative Laboratory and Field Investigation, Canadian
Geotechnical Journal, 21, 1984, pp 349-362.