Groundwater Pollution by Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Leachate: A Case Study of Okhla Landfill Delhi

The large number of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and the many hazardous materials which they contain pose a serious threat to both surrounding environment and human populations. Once waste is deposited at the landfill, pollution can arise from the percolation of leachate to the porous ground surface. Contamination of groundwater by such leachate renders it and the associated aquifer unreliable for domestic water supply and other uses. This study deals with Okhla municipal landfill, Delhi. The leachate samples were subjected to physicochemical and toxicological studies with a view to determining the degree of pollution and contamination in this wastewater, which varied substantially with time of sampling. All parameters examined showed markedly higher values indicating significant risk to public health and environment. The study recommends that immediate steps be taken to stop further contamination of the groundwater.