| dc.description.abstract | In Sri Lanka, one of the main sources of groundwater pollution is the leachate
generated from solid waste dumpsites. Karadiyana landfill is located 2km from
Ratmalana airport, which receives nearly 500 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
daily. There is a considerable number of wells in the surrounding area, which are
being used for drinking and other domestic purposes. The main focus of this study
was to identify whether there is any effect of leachate on groundwater in nearby
areas of Karadiyana dumpsite. Thus, well waters in nearby areas of the Karadiyana
Dumpsite were collected. Subsequently, parameters such as pH, Electrical
Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Phosphates and Ammoniacal
Nitrogen included in these groundwater samples were determined. After the
obtained concentrations were compared with permissible standards for drinking
water, it was identified that some of the groundwater samples contained several
contaminants exceeding the permissible limits. Moreover, the effect of distance on
the degree of leachate contamination was also determined. Accordingly, it was
suggested to identify the causing grounds for the anomaly obtained in these
outcomes. As the conclusion, it was determined that for the time being, there is no
significant effect of leachate on groundwater within the area starting from 400m
away from the Karadiyana Dumpsite. | en_US |
