Characterization of Leachate Contaminants from Waste Dumpsites in Maiduguri, Borno State

Abstract

This study characterized and analysed the constituents of the leachates from four uncontrolled and unlined waste dumpsites in Maiduguri, North eastern Nigeria. The leachate samples were carefully collected from waste dumpsites without any conventional collection equipment and transferred to the laboratory for analysis. The ionic concentration, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were determined using a conductivity meter, potassium and sodium by photometer; chlorine and calcium by titration method, BOD was computed from dissolved oxygen as determined by Winkler’s method and the UNICAM 969 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to measure the cation and anion concentrations. The pH and TDS values ranged between 8.19 to 11.32, and 208 to 7460 mg/l respectively indicating a reduction in the palatability of groundwater below the waste dumpsites due to the presence of large amount of anions and cations. The analysis has so far indicated that the concentration of Fe ion was highest followed by that Pb, Zn, Cr, Mn and Cu ions respectively. This is attributed to the presence of large iron-base materials such as metallic construction materials, fluorescents lamps, electrical appliances, paint products, batteries and wood preservatives. To avert the health-related hazards as a consequence of groundwater contamination by leachates, it is imperative for the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) to urgently address waste management practices. This could be achieved by employing the environmental engineering principles of waste management as panacea to the threat posed by leachate and other groundwater contaminants in the study area.