Project Abstract

Leachate pollution of groundwater supplies is a significant environmental concern that can have far-reaching impacts on ecosystems and human health. This research project aims to investigate the environmental impact of leachate pollution on groundwater quality and explore potential mitigation strategies. The presence of leachate, which is a liquid that has percolated through a solid and leached out some of its constituents, in landfill sites poses a major threat to groundwater supplies. As rainwater infiltrates through waste materials in landfills, it picks up various contaminants and forms leachate. If this leachate is not properly managed, it can seep into the underlying soil and eventually contaminate groundwater sources. Groundwater pollution from leachate can have detrimental effects on both the environment and public health. Contaminants such as heavy metals, organic compounds, and pathogens found in leachate can persist in groundwater for long periods, leading to bioaccumulation in plants and animals and potentially entering the human food chain. Additionally, the presence of these contaminants in groundwater can render it unsuitable for drinking and other domestic uses, posing a serious health risk to communities that rely on these water sources. To assess the environmental impact of leachate pollution on groundwater supplies, this research project will involve monitoring and analyzing water samples from contaminated sites. Various physicochemical parameters such as pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and concentrations of specific contaminants will be measured to evaluate the extent of groundwater contamination. In addition, biological indicators may be used to assess the overall health of the ecosystem affected by leachate pollution. Furthermore, this study will explore potential mitigation strategies to prevent or minimize leachate pollution of groundwater. These strategies may include improved landfill design and management practices, installation of leachate collection and treatment systems, and implementation of groundwater monitoring programs. By evaluating the effectiveness of these mitigation measures, this research aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, environmental agencies, and landfill operators in developing sustainable solutions to protect groundwater quality. In conclusion, the environmental impact of leachate pollution on groundwater supplies is a critical issue that requires urgent attention. By investigating the sources, transport pathways, and effects of leachate contamination, this research project seeks to enhance our understanding of this problem and contribute to the development of effective strategies for safeguarding groundwater resources.

Project 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.