Assessing the impacts of municipal solid wastes dumpsite on groundwater quality:

Abstract

With increasing population comes the concern for waste disposal. The absence of sanitary disposal methods has left Soroti city residents with open dumpsite as their only source of waste disposal. The resulting leachate formed from the decomposition of these waste materials is highly polluted and finds its way to the underground water supply. Gradual accumulations of contaminants in the water sources can result into high loads of pollutants which are potentially toxic to the users. The major aim of this study was to assess the impact of municipal solid wastes dumpsite on groundwater quality within Aminit dumpsite since the major source of water for both drinking and domestic use is groundwater. Objectives were, to determine contaminants in groundwater, to evaluate groundwater Quality using water quality Index and to simulate the contaminant flow from the dumpsites to groundwater sources. The water quality index was determined using National Sanitation Foundation-Water Quality Index (NSF-WQI) method based on eight major water quality parameters pH, water temperature, Electrical conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), nitrates and fecal coliforms. Water quality index at W1 is 72 (good water), W2 is 97(excellent water), W3 is 65 (poor water), W4 is 62 (poor water), and W5 is 34 (poor water). The low value of Water Quality Index at three wells (W3, W4, and W5) are affected by the high value of temperature, ph. and TDS in W4. low value of dissolved oxygen and high ph in W3 and W5 having too numerous fecal coliforms, high temperature and ph. The study also revealed that the concentration of contaminants from dumpsites to the wells decreases with increase in the distance.