Assessment Of Temporal Variations In Leachate Characteristics At An Active Landfill Site Of Delhi.

Abstract

Extraordinary population growth joined with commercial development, industrialization and rapid urbanization have led to the significant generation of municipal solid waste (MSW). Landfilling requires the lowest invest investment but it is the least favoured step in the integrated waste management order. The current effort was accomplished to measure the temporal variation of the leachate quality from the Okhla landfill site, operational since 1996 closed in 2022 and receiving approximately 2,000 tons of MSW daily in this period. Analysing leachate samples from 2018 to 2022 reveals significant temporal variations, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels consistently exceed 3,600 mg/L in pre-monsoon samples, decreasing to approximately 3,400 mg/L post-monsoon. Total Solids (TS) also decreased, indicating a dilution effect from rainfall. Notably, heavy metals, particularly lead, remain a concern, with concentrations persistently above 0.35 mg/L, highlighting ongoing contamination risks. The leachate, which lacks adequate treatment facilities, can migrate through nearby drainage systems, ultimately polluting the Yamuna River. This poses significant ecological risks, by impacting the water quality of River Yamuna. The findings emphasize the need for improved waste management practices and leachate treatment strategies to mitigate environmental risks and protect the Yamuna River's water quality and its aquatic life.