Impact of Municipal Waste Dumping on Soil and Water Around a Dump Site in Rajshahi City

Abstract

This study was directed toward the fundamental understanding of the impact on surface water, ground water and soil with time due to the open dumping of solid waste at a site in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Surface water samples were collected from two surface locations (small ponds) S1 and S2 near the dump site and ground water samples were collected from one tubewell near the dump site at two months interval from August, 2010 to July, 2012. Also soil samples were collected from three locations near the dump site. Samples were taken from the top soil, a half meter depth, and a one meter depth from each of the locations. Details laboratory analyses were performed to determine the status of surface water, groundwater and soil of the study area. The major cations of Na+ and Zn2+ were found in the surface water at location S1 at the end of the study in concentrations of 310 mg/l and 0.1 mg/l. Among anions, HCO3 - and Cl- were found at concentrations of 446 mg/l and 570 mg/l. The results of the analysis showed that the mean concentration of cations were from highest to lowest, Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ > Ca2+ > Fe3+ > Mn2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. At the same time, the concentration of K+ and Zn2+ were found in the surface water at location S2 at the end of the study in concentrations of 1130 mg/l and 0.1 mg/l. Among anions, HCO3 - and Cl- were found to be 684 mg/l and 390 mg/l. The results of the analysis showed that the mean concentration of cations were from highest to lowest K+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Fe3+ > Mn2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. The analytical results of the hydro-chemical composition of the shallow tube well water in the study area showed that BOD5 and COD of the groundwater were higher than the standards of DoE (Department of the Environment), Bangladesh. Mg2+ was the dominant ionic species among the cations of the shallow tube well water samples, and at the end of the study it was found at a concentration of 230 mg/l while the other cations were K+ (6 mg/l), Ca2+ (112 mg/l), Na+ (114 mg/l), Cu2+ (0.24 mg/l), Fe3+ (0.55 mg/l), Mn2+ (3.44 mg/l) and Zn2+ (0.2 mg/l). Among the anions, HCO3 - and Cl- were found at a concentration of 210 mg/l and 14 mg/l at the end of the study. At the end of the study, the major anions of the shallow tube well water were from highest to lowest Mg2+ > Na+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Mn2+ > Fe3+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. It was also found that, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ exceeded the limits of DoE, Bangladesh. No Arsenic was present in the ground water. The concentrations of Fe3+ and K+ were found in the soil in the highest and lowest quantities among cations, respectively at location A and at the end of the study the amount were 165.7 μg/g and 3.12 μg/g respectively at top soil and among anions, S and P were found at concentrations of 255 μg/g and 188 μg/g at the end of the study. The results of the analysis showed that the mean concentration of cations were from highest to lowest, Fe3+ > Mn2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+. The concentrations of Fe3+ and Zn2+ were found in the soil in highest and lowest quantities among cations, respectively at location B at the end of the study and the concentrations were 29.8 μg/g and 1.28 μg/g respectively on top soil and among anions, S and P were found at concentrations of 34.05 μg/g and 26.7 μg/g at the end of the study. The results of the analysis showed that the mean concentration of cations were from highest to lowest, Fe3+ > Mn2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Cu2+ > K+ > Zn2+. The concentrations of Fe3+ and Zn2+ were found in the soil in highest and lowest quantities among cations, respectively at location C and at the end of the study the concentrations were 51.8 μg/g and 0.52 μg/g respectively at on top soil and among anions, S and P were found 10.5 μg/g and 7.8 μg/g at the end of the study. The results of the analysis showed that the mean concentration of cations were from highest to lowest, Fe3+ > Mn2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Cu2+ > K+ > Zn2+. Inside the study area all parameters increased with time, which has a direct relationship with the surface and ground waters of that place, and which also increased with time. Low concentration of analyzed parameters in the soil were found at a far distance from the site. The study shows that, most of the analyzed physical, anaionic and cationic parameters of surface and groundwater increased with time. During the study period, flora and fauna around study area were also collected in a short survey. Most of the aquatic flora and fauna that one would expect to be there, but were absent in the surface water body of the study area. The study observes that there was an adverse effect from the solid waste on the surface water, ground water and soil. Although, the experimental results of this study indicate impacts of solid waste leachate on soil and, surface and groundwater, it is recommended iv for further research with larger in the field site and onsite leaching studies would be conducted to explore the long-term impacts of solid waste.