Impact of MSW leachate on the Ground Water

The leachate from MSW sites has detrimental effect on the quality of groundwateras the it is a highly concentrated complex effluent which contains dissolved organic matterinorganic compounds such as ammoniumcalciummagnesium sodiumpotassiumironsulfatechlorides and heavy metals such as cadmiumchromiumcopperleadnickelzinc & xenobiotic organic substances.The infiltration & percolation of these leachates first affects the shallow groundwater and later extended to the deep bore wells. the study is considered most important because more than 85% of the urban water requirements are met by the groundwater.The contamination by leachate varies with season and distance.Total hardnessfluoridessodiumpotassiumalkalinityTDS etc were very high in the groundwater samples near the dumpsites.The two dumpsites studied in Vijayawada have shown more or less similar effects on the groundwater.It is the need of the day to implement the Municipal Solid Waste Handling rules in every nation in true letter and spirit to safeguard the health of the public in a sustainable green society.