ASSESSING SURFACE WATER AND SUB SURFACE WATER

QUALITY NEAR A LAND FILL SITE

2015

PROJECT REPORT
Submitted by,

ARJUN P.
JOSEMON BENNY
KEVIN AUGUSTINE
JINSHAD CHAKKINGAL

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, Karukutty

Mahatma Gandhi University

SCMS School of Engineering and Technology,

Karukutty
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

2015

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project work entitled ASSESSING SURFACE

WATER AND SUBSURFACE WATER QUALITY NEAR A

LANDFILL SITE was presented by Arjun P.,Kevin Augustine, Josemon
Benny, Jinshad C.T. of seventh semester civil engineering in partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Bachelor of Technology
Degree in Civil Engineering under Mahatma Gandhi University during the
year 2015- 2016 under my guidance at SCMS School Engineering and
Technology, Karukutty.

Project Guide:

Anitha G Pillai

Remya Y.K.

Head of Department

Asst. Professor
Engineering
Dept. of Civil Engineering

Dept. of Civil

Karukutty

INTRODUCTION
General
Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal is a global concern, most especially in developing
countries across the world, as poverty, population growth and high urbanization rates
combine with ineffectual and under-funded governments to prevent efficient management of
wastes.
A land fill site is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of
waste treatment. Historically, landfills have been the most common method of organized
waste disposal and remain so in many places around the world. Some landfills are also used
for waste management purposes, such as the temporary storage, consolidation and transfer, or
processing of waste material (sorting, treatment, or recycling).
A landfill also may refer to ground that has been filled in with rocks instead of waste
materials, so that it can be used for a specific purpose, such as for building houses. Unless
they are stabilized, these areas may experience severe shaking or liquefaction of the ground
during a large earthquake.
Advantages to using landfills
Landfills are often the most cost-efficient way to dispose of waste, especially in countries like
the United States with large open spaces. While resource recovery and incineration both
require extensive investments in infrastructure, and material recovery also requires extensive
manpower to maintain, landfills have fewer fixed or ongoing costs, allowing them to compete
favorably. In addition, landfill gas can be upgraded to natural gas, land fill gas utilization
which is a potential revenue stream.
Social and environmental impact
Poorly managed landfills have the potential of causing a number of issues. Infrastructure
disruption, such as damage to access roads by heavy vehicles, may occur. Pollution of the
local environment, such as contamination of groundwater or aquifers or soil contamination

may occur, as well. Pollution of local roads and water courses from wheels on vehicles when
they leave the landfill can be significant and can be mitigated by wheel washing systems.
Methane is naturally generated by decaying organic wastes in a landfill. It is a potent
greenhouse gas, and can itself be a danger because it is flammable and potentially explosive.
In properly managed landfills, gas is collected and utilized. This could range from simple
flaring to landfill gas utilization.
Poorly run landfills may become nuisances because of vectors such as rats and flies which
can cause infectious diseases. The occurrence of such vectors can be mitigated through the
use of daily cover. Other potential issues include wildlife disruption, dust, odor, noise
pollution, and reduced local property values.

Brahmapuram waste treatment plant

RELEVANCE OF PROJECT:
Improper solid waste management (SWM) is a major environmental problem in Ernakulam
due to the absence of modern engineered landfills, therefore posing serious contamination
risk to both groundwater and surface water. Solid waste disposal by landfill poses a threat to
groundwater and surface water quality through the formation of polluting liquids known as
leachate. Leachate generally comes into existence during dissolution in the in the landfill. The
environments can be polluted by the leachate, which occurs at the end of decayed solid waste,
mixed with precipitates of surface water. As a result, surface water collection system (rivers,
creeks, lakes), subsurface collection system (groundwater reservoirs) and solid system
(different soil layers) have been seriously polluted by this Leachate.
The contaminations of soil, water and air with heavy metals even at low concentrations are
known to have potential impact on environment and human health. These metals also pose a
long-term risk to groundwater and ecosystem in general. Therefore, this research work is
aimed to assess the closed dumpsite and its impact on the surface and groundwater within the
vicinity of the closed dumpsite. This work will provide basis for further actions to be taken
on the closed dumpsite which justifies the reason for the work.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

OBJECTIVES:
1) To undergo chemical analysis of surface and underground water samples near
Brahmapuram waste plant
2) To undergo bacteriological analysis of surface and underground water samples near
Brahmapuram waste plant
3) To analyze the effect of seasonal variations in the water quality
4) To assess the impacts of dumpsite on surface water and ground water quality

SCOPE
Brahmapuram waste plant is situated in Kakkanad, Ernakulam district, Kerala.

METHODOLOGY:

Time of conducting

The samples are collected during summer season as well as in monsoon season. It is expected
that the formation of leachate will be more in monsoon season.

Sampling of water sample

During operation of the site, different types of wastes ranging from organic to inorganic,
hazardous and non hazardous were dumped in the site. The wastes were dumped without
separation. In an effort to investigate the impact of the closed dumpsite on groundwater
quality, five sampling sites were selected within 600m from the dumpsite where samples
were taken. Groundwater and surface water samples were collected using 1 litre plastic
bottles which had been cleaned by soaking in 10% nitric acid and rinsed with distilled water,
at the sampling site as well, the bottles were rinsed three times with groundwater to be
sampled prior to filling and the bottles were labelled GW1 to GW5.

Water quality tests

All normal tests like Chloride content, sulphate content, pH, alkalinity and hardness of water
are conducted. BOD/COD tests are also conducted.
It is expected that the concentrations of contaminates should decrease as the distance from
the dumpsite increases

Landfill

Sample collection

Sub surface water

Surface water

5 locations nearby
Brahmapuram plant

Kadambrayar &
Chithrapuzha River

Chemical
analysis test

Flow Chart Showing Methodology

Drinking Water Standards Fixed By ICMR

STANDARD

RECOMMENDED
MAXIMUM

PERMISSIBLE
CONCENTRATION

5mg/l

25mg/l

colour

5mg/l

25mg/l

odour

Nothing disagreeable

Nothing disagreeable

7-8.5

6.5-9.2

calcium

75mg/l

200mg/l

magnesium

50mg/l

150mg/l

iron

0.3mg/l

1mg/l

manganese

0.1mg/l

0.5mg/l

Copper

1.0mg/l

3.0mg/l

Sulphate

200mg/l

400mg/l

Phenols

0.001mg/l

0.002mg/l

Fluorides

1.0mg/l

2.0mg/l

Nitrates

20mg/l

50mg/l

0.2mg/l

Chromium

0.05mg/l

Cyanide

0.01mg/l

Lead

0.1mg/l

Selenium

0.05mg/l

Bacteriological

1 coli form per 100 ml

Physical:
Turbidity

Chemical:
pH, units

Toxic:
Arsenic

TIME SCHEDULE:
Phase 1: Collecting the samples by the first week of November 2015
Phase 2: Conducting chemical analysis
Phase 3: Collecting the samples during summer season
Phase 4: Conducting chemical analysis

COST ESTIMATE:
Approximate Rs.3000\REFERENCES
1) Akinkurolere et.al. (2007). The influence of salt water on the compressive and
engineering and applied science.

2) 2007 Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia. Use of Recycled Water in Concrete
Production August 2007.

3) Donald F. Griffin and Robert L. Henry The effect of salt in concrete on compressive
strength, water vapor transmission, and corrosion of reinforcing steel.
4) I.S. 10262-2009: Recommended guidelines for concrete mix design. Bureau of Indian
Standards, New Delhi
5) I.S. 456: 2000 Code of practice for plain and reinforce concrete Bureau of Indian
Standards, New Delhi. (third revision).