Impact of landfill sites on superficial water quality: case of the controlled landfill of Zerizer (N-E Algeria)

Abstract

In the present study, the characteristics of physico-chemical parameters of surface water at Zerizer city in Algéria, around the landfill site was investigated to evaluate the effect of landfill leachate migration on surface water. To highlight this objective, the sampling points were collected at different distances from the landfill site, located along the watercourse during two periods (high and low water) at the year 2019. The collected water samples were subjected to physico-chemical analysis (Ph, CE, TDS, OD, BOD5, COD, NO3, NO2, NH4) and heavy metals (Fe Pb Mn Zn Cr Cu), according to internationally accepted procedures and standard methods. The results of this study were compared with Algeria standards and World Health Organization guidelines. The results obtained from the physico-chemical analysis revealed that water samples are characterized by high concentration of EC(7470 μS/cm), TDS (3280 mg/l),BOD5 (53.4mg/l),COD (250.7 mg/l),NO3 (147 mg/l), PB (0.581 mg/l), Mn (3.1 mg/l), Cr (0.57 mg/l ) and Fe (3.3 mg/l) was obtained at the sampling point near to the landfill site (Z1). This concentration of measured and analyzed parameters decreases with increasing distance from the landfill. Furthermore, the values have exceeded the specified standards which indicated that the water quality has been significantly affected by leachate percolation. So, there is an urgent need to adopt certain measures at the landfill site for the protection of environmental quality around Zirezer landfill site.

Keywords

• controlled landfill
• zirezer
• leachates
• surface water
• heavy metals