Characterization of Leachate and Evaluation of Groundwater Pollution in the Vicinity of the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Authors: Pandit Dr. Bashir Ahmad 
Published: January 2024

Abstract: The most popular way for disposing of municipal solid waste (MSW) throughout India, including Kashmir, is through landfills. However, the discharge of leachate from these facilities has seriously contaminated groundwater. An evaluation was conducted on the groundwater quality near the Srinagar landfill site (Achan). In order to investigate the potential effects of leachate percolation on groundwater quality, samples of leachate and groundwater were taken from the Srinagar dump site and its surrounding areas. Groundwater and leachate samples were used to measure the concentration of various physio-chemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS, COD, BOD, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, PO43-, Phenol), as well as microbiological parameters (total coliform and faecal coliform) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg). The relatively elevated levels of NH4+, EC, TDS, BOD, phenol, Cd, and Mg, Cr were above the limits of Indian standard and WHO for drinking water. In addition to this , these also represent heavy pollutant indicators as per the Single Point Pollution Index as well by the Nemero index, as these elements crossed the upper most limit for both these pollution indeces. Assessing the water contamination in depth and distance wise, closer to landfill and shallow wells were characterized as the most polluted and had some additive contaminants ( Cl- ,SO4, Ca , Ni ). This is an indication of pollution transfer and the leachate movement. The presence of total coliform and faecal coliform although in small counts warns for the groundwater quality and thus renders the associated aquifer unreliable for domestic water supply. There is no natural or other possible reason for high concentration of these pollutants, thus it can be concluded that leachate has significant impact on groundwater quality in the area. In the present study, also an attempt has been made to investigate physico-chemical properties, fertilizing potential and heavy metal polluting potentials of the three types of composts including municipal soild waste compost, green waste compost and mixed waste compost. Each of these types were given a treatment with effective micro organisms (EM) to understand the quality of compost so formed by the composting process by its analysis (Laboratory as well as statistical) and the quality of composts was found out using Quality control Indices such as Fertilizing Index and Clean Index. Parameters like, pH, EC, TOC, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total potassium, C/N ratio, and heavy metals like zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, lead, and chromium were analyzed and it was found that all the parameters were within the permissible limits prescribed by FCO-2000. Further Fertility Index and Clean Index were determined for the samples and it was found that proper segregation of the solid waste is important from composting point of view because mixed waste affects the quality of compost. From the calculated values for the compost prepared from untreated MSW, FI (3.40) and CI (2.8), for the treated MSW Compost, FI as 3.47 and CI as 3.0, for the untreated mixed waste FI (3.27) and CI (3.0) and for the treated mixed waste FI (3.47), CI (3.2) The determined values indicates that all these compost types belongs to marketable Class D (medium fertilizing potential and medium heavy metal content).The fertility index value was estimated as 2.0 and the Clean Index value as 3.06 for the untreated green waste while for treated green waste FI(2.73) and CI(3.7), which indicates that both compost types belongs to restricted use Class RU-1 (Should not be allowed to market due to low fertilizing potential. However, these can be used as soil conditioner)