Paper Details

Remediating the toxic effect of MSW landfill leachate is the prime task in front of all environmentalists aroundthe globe. Dhapa is a solid waste disposal site situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Numerous toxic chemicals areleaching through this landfill leading to generation of leachate. Consequently, adjacent surface water bodies andgroundwater courses are getting contaminated by toxic pollutants. Leachate samples were collected from five differentlocations of the landfill site during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Analysis was made for various parametersto evaluate the seasonal variation of leachate quality and extent of pollution that has occurred in the local watercourses. Leachate Pollution Index (LPI) was also evaluated to examine the contamination potential of landfill site. Theresults showed that, the leachate generated was at a methanogenic state, which is indicated by the alkaline pH range(7.8-8.2) of the leachate sample. Lead concentration in the leachate samples was in the range of 0.32 mg/L to 0.43 mg/Lin pre-monsoon season and 0.14 mg/L to 0.25 mg/L in post-monsoon season. Mercury concentration in the leachatesamples were in the range of 0.21 mg/L to 1.09 mg/L in pre-monsoon season and 0.07 mg/L to 0.38 mg/L in postmonsoon season. The LPI values of leachate sample calculated for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons fordumping ground were 28.903 and 18.09 respectively, well above the permissible limit. Higher LPI values of leachatesamples indicate greater pollution potential. The study necessitates scientific disposal methodologies for the municipalsolid waste of the city, Kolkata.

Sanjib Kumar Maiti, Sushmita De, Tumpa Hazra, Anupam Debsarkar, Amit Dutta, “Assessment of Seasonal Variation of Landfill Leachate Quality and its Pollution Potential - A Dhapa MSW Landfill Site, Kolkata Case Study”, International Journal of Advance Engineering and Research Development (IJAERD), Vol. 2, Issue 4, pp. 570-579, April 2015.