Assessment of sub-leachate pollution index (Sub – Lpihm) to determine the heavy metal pollution potential of landfill leachate at Thirupperumthurai landfill site, Batticaloa

Abstract

Solid waste management may be defined as the discipline associated with controlling the generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal of solid waste in a manner that is accordance with the best principles of health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics and other environmental consideration. Solid waste management is a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world. Solid wastes are mainly disposed to landfill because landfill is the simplest, cheapest and most cost-effective method of disposing of waste. Leachates from landfill site cause environmental degradation and health hazards due to resultant ground water pollution. A technique to quantify the leachate pollution potential of solid waste landfills on a comparative scale is the use of index known as the leachate pollution index (LPI). The sub-LPIhm is a quantitative tool by which the leachate pollution potential of heavy metal of the landfill can be reported uniformly. The sub-leachate pollution index for heavy metal provides a convenient means of summarizing complex heavy metal pollution data and facilitates its communication to decision makers and the general public. This study was attempted to assess sub-LPIhm of Thirupperumthurai landfill site which is located in Batticaloa district. Leachate samples were collected during the period of September 2015 to January 2016. Samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of heavy metals such as Lead, Zinc, Nickel, Chromium and Arsenic. The sub-LPIhm was calculated by using Delphi technique. The sub-LPIhm values of each points (A, B and C) were 1.4705, 1.4974 and 1.4957 respectively. The overall sub-LPIhm value of Thirupperumthurai landfill site was 1.4997. The results of this study will be used in developing site specific remediation technologies in landfill leachate treatment.