Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Leachate pollution from landfills is a significant environmental concern, particularly due to its impact on ground water supplies. This research project aims to investigate the environmental impact of leachate pollution on ground water quality and the potential risks it poses to human health and ecosystems. The study will focus on analyzing the composition of leachate from landfills and assessing its effects on ground water quality through field sampling and laboratory analysis. The research will involve collecting water samples from monitoring wells located near landfills and analyzing them for various parameters such as heavy metals, organic compounds, and pH levels. These samples will be compared with water quality standards to evaluate the extent of contamination and potential risks to ground water supplies. Additionally, the study will assess the spatial distribution of leachate contamination and its migration pathways in the subsurface environment. Furthermore, the project will investigate the potential health impacts of leachate pollution on nearby communities that rely on ground water sources for drinking water. By conducting surveys and interviews with local residents, the research aims to understand the perceptions and concerns regarding water quality and potential health risks associated with leachate contamination. This information will help in developing strategies to mitigate the risks and protect public health. In addition to human health concerns, the study will also evaluate the ecological impacts of leachate pollution on aquatic ecosystems. By examining the effects of leachate-contaminated water on fish populations, macroinvertebrates, and other aquatic organisms, the research will assess the long-term consequences of ground water pollution on biodiversity and ecosystem health. Overall, this research project will provide valuable insights into the environmental impact of leachate pollution on ground water supplies and the associated risks to human health and ecosystems. The findings will contribute to the development of effective management strategies to prevent and mitigate leachate pollution, safeguard ground water quality, and protect public health and the environment from the adverse effects of landfill contamination.

Thesis Overview

1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUNDGroundwater pollution is mainly due to the process of industrialization and urbanization that has progressively developed over time without any regard for environmental consequences. Its quality is based on the physical and chemical soluble parameters due to weathering from source rocks and anthropogenic activities. In recent times, the impact of leachate on groundwater and other water resources has attracted a lot of attention because of its overwhelming environmental significance. Leachate migration from wastes sites or landfills and the release of pollutants from sediments (under certain conditions) pose a high risk to groundwater resource if not adequately managed.Protection of groundwater is a major environmental issue since the importance of water quality on human health has attracted a great deal of interest lately. Assessing groundwater quality and developing strategies to protect aquifers from contamination are necessary for proper planning and designing water resources. Open dumps are the oldest and most common way of disposing of solid wastes, although in recent years, thousands have been closed, many are still being used. Because of these, waste management has become increasingly complex due to the increase in human population, industrial and technological revolutions and the processes that control the fate of wastes in the soil is complex and many of them are poorly understood. Issues such as nutrients release rate and other chemicals, leaching of nutrients, metals through macro pores as suspended solids and sludge organic matter on the degradation are often not understood by many.Leaching of hydrophobic organics and fate of metals fixed by soil organic matter needed to be studied to have a better approach in handling groundwater pollution. Toxic chemicals that have high concentration of nitrate and phosphate derived from waste in the soil can filter through a dump and contaminate both ground and surface water. Insects, rodents, snakes and scavenger birds, dust, bad odour are some of the Aesthetic problems associated with sanitary landfill.1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMThe problem of this study is to determine the environmental impact of leachate pollution of ground water supplies in Olukori, Ila-Orangun, Osun state1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDYThe purpose of the study is to know to what extent, increase in waste generation and disposal resulted in the increase of groundwater pollution, and how it has affected the well water in Olukori area of Ila-Orangun.1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDYTo know the physical properties and chemical properties of the water samples in the areaTo determine the effect of landfill leachate in groundwater and its effect on human health1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDYLeachate migration from waste sites or landfills and the release of pollutants from sediments (under rain conditions) pose a high risk to groundwater resource, and also to human if not adequately managed.1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDYThis research work covers landfill leachate and how it affects groundwater supply in Olukori area.1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDYFinancial constraintsThe study is limited to landfill leachate in Olukori area, Ila-OrangunTime constraintsLack of mobility to the area.1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMSGROUNDWATER: This is the water located beneath the surface of the earth’s surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations.LANDFILL: This is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial, the oldest form of waste disposal.QUALITY: This refers to an attribute or a property of somethingPOLLUTION: This is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change.LEACHATE: this is any liquid that in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other components of the materials through which it has been passed.