Leachate, Groundwater, Surface Stream, Treated Water And Soil Characteristics of the Vicinity of a Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite at uyo Metropolis, Akwa – Ibom State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
These findings documented the physical, chemical and heavy metal contents in leachate, borehole water, surface stream, treated water and soil samples around the municipal solid waste dumpsite at Uyo metropolis, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria.
Samples were collected during the wet and dry seasons 2010/2011. The samples were analysed for the following parameters: heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb), anions (PO3 ,SO2- ,Cl–, NO– , NH+ -N), essential metals (Na, K, Ca, Mg), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolve oxygen (DO), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, salinity, turbidity and conductivity.
The results revealed that most of the parameters recorded for the leachate samples significantly exceeded the WHO international standards for drinking water in both seasons.
Fe (47.33 and 113.13mg(L), Cd (2.29 and 14.47mg/l), Cu (5.78 and 35.87mg/l), Cr (1.63 and 7.63mg/l), Pb (12.33 and 31.13mg/l), Zn (17.33, and 34.5mg/l), BOD (52.2 and 159.6mg/l), Cl– (284.37 and 536mg/l), NO– (74.03 and 87.83mg/l), TDS (1709.5 and 2043mg/l) and DO (1.73 and 2.73mg/l).
In leachate, all the heavy metals, Cl–, COD, salinity, and conductivity contents showed significant increase (P<0.05) while SO2- recorded significant decrease (P<0.05) during the dry season.
The physico-chemical contents recorded for the borehole water and treated water samples in both seasons agree with the international standards for drinking water, except for high PO 3- content (1.13 to 2.17mg/l) recorded for the borehole water samples in both seasons which exceeded the WHO permissible limit of 0.1mg/l for drinking water.
The borehole water sample recorded significant increase (P<0.05) in Fe, Mn, Na, K. and a significant decrease in SO2- contents during the dry season.
The stream water sample recorded high Fe (0.61 and 2.5mg/l) content in both seasons and high Mn (2.37 mg/l), Cr (0.42mg/l), Cd (0.46mg/l) and Cu (3.95mg/l) contents during the dry season which exceeded the WHO international standard for drinking water.
The stream water samples recorded significant increase in BOD5, Cu, Mn, Cd and Cr contents during the dry season (P<0.05).
The heavy metal contents recorded for soil samples from the dumpsite, from 10 and 20m east, west, south and north of the dumpsite and from the control site were all within the WHO international standards in both seasons.
The heavy metal contents in the dumpsite soil sample in both seasons were significantly higher; pb (9.90 and 11.82mg/kg), Zn (1370 and 146mg/kg), Ni (12.56 and 11.82mg/kg), Cr (3.60 and 4.05mg/kg) Cd (9.05 and 12.2mg/kg) and Mn (94.0 and 91.2mg/kg) In both seasons than the control; Pb (3.78mg/kg) Zn (50.90mg/kg), Ni (2.19mg/kg), Cr (1.06mg/kg), Mn (44.27mg/kg), and Cd (1.09mg/kg).
Heavy metal contents for soil samples 10 and 20m east of the dumpsite were also significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the control.
This study infer that the solid waste dumpsite is affecting the natural quality of the ambient environment. Therefore indiscriminate dumping of solid waste at the dumpsite should be prohibited.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – vii
Table of contents – – – – – – – viii
List of Tables – – – – – – – – xiii
List of Figures – – – – – – – – xv
List of plates – – – – – – – – xvii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the study – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the problem – – – – 7
1.3 Objectives of study – – – – 8
1.3.1 General objectives – – – – 8
1.3.2 Specific objectives – – – – 8
1.4 Expected benefits of the study – – – – 9
1.5 Research questions – – – – 9
1.6 Scope of the study – – – – 10
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Meaning of waste – – – – 11
2.1.1 Solid waste – – – – 11
2.2 Solid waste dumpsite – – – – – 14
2.2.1 Open dumps system – – – – – 14
2.2.2 Sanitary landfill system – – – – – 15
2.3 Waste management – – – – – 15
2.3.1 Landfills – – – – – 16
2.3.2 Incineration – – – – – 16
2.3.3 Recycling – – – – – 17
2.4 Leachate – – – – – 17
2.4.1 Leachate production – – – – – 20
2.4.1.1 Influence of Source – – – – – – 20
2.4.1.2 Processes – – – – – – 20
2.4.1.3 Timing of landfill stabilization – – – – 22
2.5 Pollution – – – – – – – – 23
2.5.1 Ancient culture – – – – – 23
2.5.2 Official acknowledgement – – – – 23
2.5.3 Modern awareness — – – – – 25
2.5.4 Forms of Pollution – – – – – 27
2.6 Water Pollution – – – – – 28
2.6.1 Water pollution Categories – – – – 29
2.6.1.1. Surface Water pollution – – – – – 29
2.6.1.2 Groundwater pollution – – – – – 31
2.6.2 Causes of water pollution – – – – – 31
2.6.2.1 Pathogens – – – – – – 32
2.6.2.2 Chemical and other contaminants – – 33
2.6.3 Measurement of water pollution – – 34
2.7 Water quality – – – – – – – 34
2.8 Soil/land pollution – – – – – 33
2.8.1 Causes of soil pollution – – – – 36
2.8.2 Effects – – – – – – – 36
2.8.2.1 Health effects – – – – – – 36
2.8.2.2. Ecosystem effects – – – – – 37
2.8.2.3 Clean up options – – – – – 38
2.9 Review of related studies – – – 39
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 The study area – – – – – 45
3.2 Material and methods – – – – – 47
3.2.1 Sampling – – – – – – – 47
3.2.2 Samples treatment – – – – – – 51
3.2.2.1 Treatment of water samples – – – – 51
3.2.3 Treatment of leachate sample – – – – 51
3.2.4 Treatment of soil sample – – – – – 52
3.2.5 Preparation of stock solutions – – – 52
3.2.6 Chemical analysis – – – – – 52
3.2.6.1 Determination of pH and temperature – 53
3.2.6.2 Determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) 53
3.2.6.3 Determination of Dissolved oxygen (DO) – – 53
3.2.6.4 Determination Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD) 54
3.2.6.5 Determination of total dissolved solids (TDS) – 54
3.2.6.6 Determination of Major Anions – – – 55
3.2.6.6.1 Determination of Phosphate (PO43-) – – 55
3.2.6.6.2 Determination of Nitrate (NO3-) – – – 55
3.2.6.6.3 Determination of Sulphate (SO42-) – – 55
3.2.6.6.4 Determination of Chloride (Cl-) – – – 56
3.2.6.6.5 Determination of nitrite (NO2) – – – 56
3.2.6.6.6 Determination of Ammonium Nitrogen – – 57
3.2.7 Determination of Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) 57
3.2.8 Determination of heavy metals – – – 57
3.3 Data Analysis Technique – – 57
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Means and standard deviations of some physicchemical contents in leachate ground water, stream water and treated water samples – 58
4.1.1 Mean concentrations of pH temperature turbidity salinity and conductivity in leachate, groundwater, stream water and treated water samples – – 58
4.1.2 Mean concentrations of DO, BOD, COD, Total suspended solids (TSS) and Total dissolved solids (TDS) in leachate groundwater, stream water and treated water samples – 69
4.1.3 Mean concentrations of some major anions In leachate, groundwater, stream water and treated Water samples -79
4.1.4 Mean concentrations of essential cations in leachates, Ground water, treated water and stream water samples 87
4.1.5 Mean concentrations of heavy metals in leachate Groundwater stream water and treated water Samples – – 93
4.2 Mean concentrations of heavy metals in soil along Wastes and non wastes disposal sites – – – 100
4.3 Discussion – – – – – – – 115
4.3.1 Physico-chemical characteristics of leachate, groundwater, stream water and treated water samples 115
4.3.2 Heavy metal characteristics of soil samples
along wastes and non-wastes disposal sites – – 137
4.4 Spiked samples – – – – – – – 144
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary and conclusions – – – – – 150
5.2 Recommendations – – – – – 152
5.3 Contribution to knowledge – – – – – 153
5.4 Suggestion for further works – – – – 153
References
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The municipal solid waste dumpsite (MSWD) examined is located within the barrack’s road street at Uyo Metropolis; Akwa – Ibom State. The dumpsite examined contains both biodegradable and non biodegradable materials of all sorts.
The different waste materials may contain different physical, chemical and biochemical properties. In the presence of atmospheric water, high temperature and high microbial populations, these waste materials may decompose and get dissolved in the presence of water to generate a waste liquid substance called leachate.
This waste water produced may infiltrate into the ground water aquifer, it may be washed into a near by surface stream and it may affect the soil properties.
When humans come into direct contact with such contaminated samples, it may lead to many health problems.
Pollution occurs when a product added to our natural environment adversely affects nature’s ability to dispose it off. A pollutant is something which adversely interferes with health, comfort, property or environment of the people.
Generally, most pollutants are introduced in the environment as seawage, waste, accidental discharge and as compounds used to protect plants and animals.
There are many types of pollution such as air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, nuclear pollution and oil pollution (Misra and Mani, 1991).
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