CONCENTRATION GRADIENT OF MIGRATING POLLUTANTS IN GROUNDWATERS AROUND SOLOUS LANDFILL, NIGERIA

M.Sc. RESEARCH PROJECT

BY

GREENE LARRY TIVERE

119073074

AT

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA

MARCH 2017
 PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Introduction
Project Aim and Objectives
Reviewed Literature
Methodology
Results
Conclusion
Recommendations
 INTRODUCTION
Groundwater is one of the most precious substances found in the
subsurface and is the most extracted raw material
Hence there must be conscious efforts to make groundwater a sustainable
resource, through proper protection from both depletion and
contamination.
Groundwater contamination is often caused by diffuse and point sources
Diffuse sources: Agriculture or contaminated surface waters
Point Sources : Spills, industrial areas, and landfills; with landfills
containing a large variety of substances ((Zektser and Everett, 2004)

*Zektser, I. S. and Everett, L. G. (2004): Groundwater resources of the world and their use. IhP Series on
groundwater (Vol. 6).
 Introduction Cont’d
Landfills contain a large variety of substances

The property of groundwater to flow at different rates can cause the

development of different CONCENTRATION GRADIENT of substances embedded

 This can be due to the nature of the subsoil, rocks and a variety of
factors leading to the formation of a contaminant plume which travel
within the aquifer after attenuation fails, spreading over horizontal
gradients and percolating into the underground aquifers.
 Introduction Cont’d
Safe landfilling is only true for properly engineered landfill sites called
Sanitary Landfill and Hazardous Landfill
The most widely recognized risk to humans from these landfills is from the use
of groundwater that has been influenced by “leachate”.
Leachates are highly contaminated liquids generated as a consequence of
organic fraction of waste in combination with moisture release, precipitation
and infiltration
Leachates contains enormous measure of natural matter -biodegradable and non-
biodegradable, inorganic poisons, heavy metals which can cause severe
environmental hazards if they are not properly collected, treated and safely
disposed (Li et al., 1999)

*Li, X. Z., Zhao, Q. L. and Hao, X. D. (1999): “Ammonium removal from landfill leachate by chemical precipitation”. Waste
Management, 19, 409-415.
 Introduction cont’d
The potential environmental impacts related to unsanitary landfill leachate are
pollution of surface waters, groundwater and eventually the aquifer.
The contributing factors ranging from technical problems to financial and
institutional constraints.
The risk has being more of, historically building non-engineered landfills and
which are without adequate and proper liners and leachate collection systems.
This inadequate solid waste management, SWM is a major environmental problem in
Lagos metropolis (Longe and Balogun, 2010).
Groundwater is known as a major source of water supply in the project area and in
Lagos state in general, and its contamination is a major environmental and health
concern. (Longe and Enekwechi, 2007).
*Longe E. O. & Balogun, M. R. (2010): Groundwater Quality Assessment near a Municipal Landfill, Lagos, Nigeria. Research
Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology 2(1), 39-44

*Longe, E.O. and L.O. Enekwechi (2007): Investigation on potential groundwater impacts and influence of local hydrogeology on
natural attenuation of leachate at a municipal landfill. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 4(1):133-140.
 PROJECT AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to detect groundwater contaminants as a consequence
of the landfill activity, relating them with their migratory distances. The
key objectives include:
To determine the physicochemical and heavy metal contaminants in the
groundwater.
To check the compliance of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal
concentrations with permissible limits set by the WHO and the SON.
To correlate several contaminants with each other and with different
horizontal distances in order to detect the current rate of attenuation of the
soil structure.
To propose from the results of the study, the state of water quality and
chemistry of the surrounding groundwater wells.
 REVIEWED LITERATURE
According to Idehai et al. (2015), none of the Lagos landfill is
properly engineered and fitted with requisite leachate collection
facilities and massive portions of the overburden aquifer have been
stripped off, thereby reducing the unsaturated zone by ≥30 m, with
about 3.2 million metric tonnes/year MSW dumped on this exposed
voids in recent years.

Idehai M.I., Tavamelli E, and Lupo.A.R. (2015): Evaluation of Heavy Element levels in
Leachate, Soil and Groundwater in the Lagos Landfill Areas of Nigeria, Journal of Geography,
Environmental and Earth Science International 3(2): 1-21, Article no. JGEES1 19197
 Reviewed Literature Cont’d
Most of the samples over-shot the established limit for Pb except the groundwater
drawn about 500 m from the Solous landfill. Elevated levels of Pb in leachate had
also been observed by Moturi et al. (2004) and this may be attributed largely to
the disposal of batteries, lead-based paints and lead pipes found at the site.
The presence of Pb and Cd in the landfill leachate and their absence in all the
groundwater samples can be attributed to the sub-surface geology of the site
which consists of clay. These metals have the affinity to be absorbed by clayey
soil (Longe and Enekwechi, 2007).

Moturi M.C.Z., Rawat M, Subramanian V. (2004): Distribution and fractionation of heavy metals
in solid waste from selected sites in the industrial belt of Delhi, India. Environ. Monit.
Assess. 95: 183-199.
 Reviewed Literature Cont’d
Factors Affecting Groundwater Quality
1. Natural factors
Nature of bedrock geology
Degree of chemical weathering of various rock types
Quality of recharge water
Inputs from sources other than rock interaction
Depth from surface soil
Vegetation
Climatic variation – rainfall and evaporation
Permeability of sediments,
Topography
 Reviewed Literature Cont’d
2. Anthropogenic Factors
Nature of human activities
Urbanization
Industrialization
Waste management disposal (Aghazadeh and Mogaddam, 2010).

Aghazadeh, N. & Mogaddam, A. A. (2010): Assessment of groundwater quality and its suitability
for drinking and agricultural uses in the Oshnevieh Area, northwest of Iran. Journal of
Environmental Protection, 1, 30-40
 Reviewed Literature Cont’d

The Factors Affecting Leachate Composition and Pollution

characteristics:

landfill age
Solid waste ingredient
hydraulic conditions of landfill
interaction of leachate with environment
landfill design operation
 Reviewed Literature Cont’d

particle size
degree of compaction
moisture and temperature condition
available oxygen (Longe & Balogun, 2010;Bidhendi et al., 2010)

Bidhendi, M. E., Karbassi, A. R., Baghvand, A., Saeedi, M. & Pejman, A. H. (2010): Potential
of natural bed soil in adsorption of heavy metals in industrial waste landfill. International
Journal of Science and Technology, 7(3), 545-552
 Reviewed Literature Cont’d
Landfill life span & Leachate Migration
According to Oyiboka (2014), decomposition of organic matter can
alter the physicochemical quality of groundwater and promote the
mobility of dangerous chemical, involving metals and solvents.
According to Kostova (2006), concentration (mg/L) of leachate
constituent are in phases namely transition (0-5 years), acid-
formation (5-10 years), methane fermentation (10-20 years) and final
maturity (>20 years). Groundwater may not be contaminated at the
inception of waste deposition in the landfill.

Oyiboka, I.J. (2014): Effects of Landfill Sites on Groundwater Quality in Igando Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State,
M.Sc. in Environmental Science, University of South Africa.

Kostova, I. (2006): Leachate from sanitary landfills - origin, characteristic treatment. University of Architecture, Civil
Engineering and Geodesy, “Iskar’s Summer School”-Borovetz, 26-29 July 91
 Landfill life span & Leachate Migration
(Cont’d)
Leachate generated in the initial period of waste deposition (up
to 5 years) in landfills, have pH-value range of 3.7 to 6.5
indicating the presence of carboxylic acids and bicarbonate
ions. With time, pH of leachate becomes neutral or weakly
alkaline ranging between 7.0 and 7.6. Landfills exploited for
long period of time give rise to alkaline leachate with pH range
of 8.0 to 8.55 (Longe & Balogun, 2010)

If a landfill contaminates groundwater, a plume of contamination

will occur. Wells in that plume will be contaminated, but other
wells, even those close to the landfill, may be unaffected if
they are not in the plume (Oyiboka, 2014)
 Water Quality Standards
WHO (World Health Organization); SON (Standard Organization of Nigeria). All values in (mg/L) except Conductivity (μS/cm),
Turbidity (NTU), pH, NS = not specified

Parameter WHO SON

pH 6.5 – 9.5 6.5 – 8.5
Turbidity 5 5
Electrical Conductivity 1200 1000
Odour, OD Unobjectionable Unobjectionable
Dissolved Oxygen, DO 2.0 NS
Free CO2 NS NS
Chloride, Cl- 250 100
Nitrate–nitrogen, NO3-N 50 50
Cd 0.003 0.003
Cr 0.05 0.05
Pb 0.01 0.01
 METHODOLOGY
STUDY SITE
The Solous Sites: Situated along LASU-Igando Road. Solous I not active
since 5th October 2006.Solous II which is opposite Solous I, is on 7.8
hectares of land with average life span of 5 years and active since 20
July 2006.Solous III- a new site with approximately 5 hectares of land
with average life span of 5 years active since 4th July 2008 (LAWMA,
2016).
The midpoint between Solous I and II (closed) was taken as the centre
of, the reference landfill site with coordinates N 06° 34.269’ E 003°
15.162’ , elevation of 104 ft. While the centre of Solous III
(active)down the south of Solous I and II , stand on the coordinates ,
N 06 ° 33.866' E 003° 15.143’ at an elevation of 90 ft. as secondary the
reference
LAWMA, 2016: Landfill, Lagos Waste Management Authority, info@lawma .gov.ng, Lagos Waste Management
Authority Lawma .htm
 METHODOLOGY Cont’d
  GROUNDWATER SAMPLING
25 groundwater wells (W) were studied around the landfill site.
21 groundwater wells in the north and 4 in the south.
3 wells , W1, W2 and W3 were sampled at the reference sites of SI &
SII, within 0 m. The remaining 22 wells, W4 to W25 located on
gradients: 50 m, 150 m 250 m and ≥ 250 m around the north and south of
the 3 landfills
The south, down Slope of the map comprised groundwater wells around
the active Soluos III landfill site on two gradients of 70meters. The
wells sampled in the south include: W22, W23, W24 and W25.
Solous I and Solous II are opposite each other along the major road,
700 metres apart from Soluos III from their centres.
The coordinates of all sampled wells were noted with an handheld
Garmin model GPS
Map Of Sampling Sites With Sampled Points
Groundwater Sampling Location Description
Groundwater Well Status Region Latitude (N) Longitude (E) Depth (m)

W1 Shallow well S 06º 34.210’ 003º15.213’ 16.27

W2 Shallow well S 06º 34.162’ 003º15.084’ 13.65

W3 Shallow well N 06º 34.326’ 003º15.157’ 18.24

W4 Shallow well SW 06º 34.161’ 003º15.955’ 13.54

W5 Shallow well SSE 06º 34.130’ 003º15.297’ 16.32

W6 Shallow well NE 06º 34.331’ 003º15.325’ 16.27

W7 Shallow well SSW 06º 34.301’ 003º15.979’ 18.74

W8 Shallow well SE 06º 34.196’ 003º15.303’ 18.31

W9 Shallow well NW 06º 34.441’ 003º15.130’ 16.27

W10 Shallow well S 06º34.055’ 003º15.015’ 11.70

W11 Shallow well N 06º34.108’ 003º15.063’ 13.30

W12 Borehole SS 06º34.036’ 003º15.118’ BH

 PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS ON GROUNDWATER
pH Ammonia & Organic – Nitrogen, NH3 +Org - N,
Turbidity,  DNA and RNA Concentration
Electrical Conductivity DNA+RNA/Protein Ratios
Odour, OD. Protein Concentration
Dissolved Oxygen, DO Heavy metals Concentration :
Free CO2 i. Cd
Chloride, Cl- ii. Cr
Chemical Oxygen Demand, COD, iii. Pb
Nitrate-Nitrogen, NO3- N,
Total Nitrogen, TN,
 RESULTS
The result analyzed physicochemical parameter and heavy metal concentrations in
the groundwater in tables with descriptive statistics
Each period on the research was an interval of 10 days between which samples were
collected and then analyzed during the dry season of January 2017.
The physicochemical parameter was used to generally ascertain the groundwater
quality. The heavy metal concentration was used to ascertain the level of
pollution of the landfill with hazardous waste comixed with MSW.
The physicochemical and heavy metal concentration determined were correlated
with the distance of the groundwater wells from the reference landfill sites of
Solous I and II at distances from 0m through 50 m, 150 m, 250 m, ≤250m and ≥250 m
Relationship was also drawn between the physicochemical parameter like - TN
with Proteins; and
Relationship of DO with depth of the water table .
Compliance with standard limits of WHO and SON were used to monitor groundwater
quality in the varied comparisons
PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS PER DISTANCE FROM THE REFERENCE LANDFILL
Physicochemical Analysis of 3 samples at 0 Metre
Sampl pH Free DO COD Cl- NO3- TN (NH3+ Turbi
es CO2 Org)- dity
N
W1** 5.9* 8.71 2.41 188 392* 58.3* 96.7 37.9 8*
W2* 5.8* 6.97 1.55* 91.2 1130* 8.54 10.5 2.0 7*
W3* 5.6* 13.68 1.89* 150 723* 26.2 106 79.8 18*

*limits above or below the standard quality limits by WHO and

SON

*exceed quality limits in ≥ two parameters

**exceed quality limits in ≥ two parameters and exceeds DO, Cl-

or NO3- limits
Descriptive Statistics for Physicochemical Parameters within 0 m Distance of Solous I
& II Landfills
Parameter Min. Max. Mean SD Variance Range Std. Error

pH 5.6* 5.9* 5.8* 0.15 0.02 0.27 0.09

Free CO2 6.97 13.7 9.79 3.48 12.13 6.71 2.01

DO 1.55* 2.41 1.95* 0.43 0.19 0.86 0.25

COD 91.2 188 143 48.5 2352.8 96.3 28

Cl- 392* 1130* 750* 371 134000 743 215

NO3- 8.54 58.8* 31.1 25.5 650 50.3 14.7

TN 10.54 106 71.1 52.6 2770 95.5 30.4

(NH3+Org) –N 2.0 79.8 39.9 38.9 1520 77.8 22.5

Turbidity 7* 18* 11* 6.1 37 11 3.5

Physicochemical Analysis of 6 Samples within 50 m of Solous I & II
Samples pH Free DO COD Cl- NO3- TN (NH3+Org)-N Turbidiy
CO2
W4** 6.0 6.20 1.55* 167 567* 16.5 24.2 7.7 7*
W5* 5.7* 5.03 2.83 60.8 851* 21.3 36.9 15.4 8*
W6* 5.6* 8.91 2.83 122 1140* 19.3 30.8 11.5 7*
W7* 5.9* 3.48 2.32 76 1140* 8.38 19.35 11.0 8*
W8* 5.9* 5.42 2.32 60.8 567* 28.8 33.5 4.7 7*
W9* 6.1 9.29 2.06 45.6 851* 11.9 16.3 4.4 7*
Descriptive Statistics for Physicochemical Parameters within 50m Distance to
Landfill
Parameter Min. Max. Mean SD Variance Range Std. Error

pH 5.6* 6.1 5.9* 0.18 0.03 0.53 0.07

Free CO2 3.48 9.29 6.38 2.28 5.21 5.81 0.93

DO 1.55* 2.83 2.32 0.49 0.24 1.28 0.20

COD 45.6 167 88.7 46.5 2160 122 19.0

Cl- 567* 1140* 851* 254 64500 568 104

NO3- 8.38 28.8 17.7 7.24 52.4 20.4 2.96

TN 16.3 36.9 26.8 8.2 67.1 20.6 3.3

(NH3 +Org) –N 4.4 15.4 9.1 4.3 18.5 11 1.8

Turbidity 7* 8* 7.33* 0.52 0.27 1 0.21

 Selected Heavy metal concentrations (mg/L) of some ground waters around Solous
Landfill

Cd and Pb were detected in majority of the 15 samples analyzed with 5 samples per the three periods of
measurement and in all, exceeded the permissible limits set by WHO and SON. Cr was not detected.
Frequenc Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Standards
y
WHO SON

Sample W4 W6 W7 W9 W23 W12 W25 W1 W3 W14 W21 W22 W1 W3 W23 NS NS

Distance ≤50 ≤50 ≤50 ≤50 600≥x≤6 ≤150 ≤390 0 0 ≤150 ≤250 ≤324 0 0 600≥x≤666 NS NS
(m)
66
Location S1 N S1 N S2 S1 S2 S1 N S1 S1 N S1 N S2 NS NS

Region SW NE SSW NW SS2 SS NS2 S N SSE S NS2 S N SS2 NS NS

Cd mg/L) ND ND 0.0 0.020 0.096 0.062 0.102 0.035 0.05 0.029 0.07 0.078 0.04 0.108 0.078 0.003 0.003
1 5 5 45 4 9
Cr ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 0.05 0.05
(mg/L)
Pb ND ND ND 0.119 0.927 0.875 0.622 0.838 1.32 0.219 0.73 0.649 0.56 0.447 0.0875 0.01 0.01
(mg/L) 5 25 5 8 7
 SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIP OF SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERISTICS WITH DISTANCE PER REGION OF STUDY AREA
CLOSE TO THE LANDFILLS
See table 4.10 a- j, in which the relationship of
various properties pH, DO, COD, NO3-, DNA-RNA/protein
ratio and Protein concentration was determined using
the Spearman’s correlation coefficient, rs
It was discovered that from correlation of most region
with increasing distance, that most regions around the
landfills had poor water quality due to high nitrate-
nitrogen concentrations of the groundwater samples due
to leachates migrating into the surrounding
underground water table. Nitrates in soil is a major
environmental problem always contributing partly to
eutrophied waters.
SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIP OF SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERISTICS WITH DISTANCE PER REGION OF STUDY AREA
CLOSE TO THE LANDFILLS
According to Bailey-Watts, 1993, nitrogen present in soil
organic matter may be released as nitrate through microbial
action. Nitrates’ role as a nutrient contributes significantly
to blooms of algae, which upon death are decomposed first by
aerobic bacteria, thereby depriving fish and other oxygen of
oxygen. The low DO concentrations recorded close to Solous I &
II and Solous III in the range 0 to 50 m is evident of the use
of nitrate-nitrogen as nutrients in the leachate polluted
groundwaters, to generate high proteins and free CO2
concentrations

*Bailey- Watts A.E., Gunni.I. D.M.f and Kirika,A (1993): Loch Leven: ‘Past and Current Water
Quality and Options for Change’ Report to the Forth River Purification Board, Institute of
Freshwater Ecology, Edinburgh
CORRELATION OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN WITH DEPTH OF WATER TABLE

Parameter W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W23

Depth(x), 16.27 13.65 18.24 13.54 16.32 16.27 18.74 18.31 16.27 14.84
m
DO (y), 0.52 1.55 2.32 1.55 2.83 2.83 2.32 2.32 2.06 1.29
mg/L

Regression line of y on x: y = a + bx

y = - 0.99 + 0.18x
Where y is the regression line equation of
y on x. The y is the dependent variable
(DO) and the depth of the water table, x is
independent.

Hence, the predicted value of DO (mg/L) as

the water table increase is as follow.
CORRELATION OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN WITH DEPTH OF WATER TABLE, Cont’d

Depth (x), m DO (y), mg/L

This is a positive correlationin which the DO
concentration increased with increasing depth.
5 -0.09
Implying that the contaminants from the landfill
10 0.81 have completely used up the dissolved oxygen at
15 1.71 a depth of 5 m i.e. groundwater pollution has
20 2.61
occurred and affected closer water table and the
contaminants are gradually migrating downward
the water table as a result of landfilling
activity and the filtering property of the
subsoil structure.

Using Pearson’s correlation, a correlation

coefficient, r = + 0.5 was obtained, which is a
moderate monotonic positive relationship between
the DO concentration and the depth of water
table (while the Spearman’s rank method gave a
positive correlation of + 0.7).
 CONCLUSION
The investigated physicochemical and heavy metal contaminants exceeded
permissible limits of WHO and SON. Most of the groundwater was slightly acidic
with mean pH below 6.0, which in effect is allowing heavy metals such as Pb and Cd
to be sorbed on to the acidic soils and eventually leaching down the water table
and polluting underground water aquifers.

The DO at the landfill sites and the 50 m away from it are below the 2.0 mg/L
concentration limit set by the WHO. The concentrations of nitrate- nitrogen and
total nitrogen, in distances close to both the active and non-active landfills
favoured the growth of microorganisms which resulted in high amounts of proteins
and DNA/RNA concentrations, causing the prevalence of microbiological
processes, utilizing the DO for food production and reproduction ; and gradually
leading to anoxic conditions in the higher water table. Hence these groundwater
wells are of poor water quality not potable, and are domestically and
aesthetically unfit for use.
 RECOMMENDATIONS
As the results of the study shows high level of COD, chlorides, conductivity and
slightly high acidity, indicative of a lack of collection of leachates at the
landfills and allowing the leachates to infiltrate into the underground aquifer,
impacting negatively on the groundwater quality and the environment in general.
It is expedient to take the following mitigative measures:
Landfills should be properly designed, constructed, and managed to prevent
pollution.
Monitoring of the groundwater should be a regular duty of the authorities
managing the Solous landfills, done for different seasons to verify variations on
contaminant concentrations.
The public should be appropriately sensitized on the health risk of consuming
untreated water from groundwater wells in close proximity to unsanitary landfill
sites by the Government
 Government agencies should monitor the water treatment processes used by bottled
and containered water makers, in these dilapidated landfill communities, to
ensure their treatment processes is capable of eliminating disease causing agents
in the water
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME