The effect of dumpsite on groundwater quality

1. UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES & CLIMATE CHANGE
T.J.R FAULKNER COLLEGE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Topic
THE EFFECTS OF DUMPSITE ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY
(POULTRY COMMUNITY AS A CASE STUDY)
SUBMITTED BY:
ABRAHAM FLOMO
ID #: 61269
Date: May 10, 2023

2. OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Methodology
 Findings
 Conclusion
 Recommendations
 Reference

3. INTRODUCTION
 Groundwater is an essential component of society
and communities around the globe. Not only is a
valuable resource for drinking water but it is also
essential for social, recreational and cultural
activities
 According to the united Nations, over two billion
people rely on groundwater for their daily drinking
water needs, making it a critical resource for human
survival. It is mostly use for drinking water, irrigation
and industrials uses.
 In Liberia, groundwater serve as a reliable source
for drinking.

4. INTRODUCTION CONT……
 It is a well knew fact that approximate 70% of the
earth is cover by water at often time we began to
thank of water as limited resources. However only
0.6% of water is groundwater that is available for
human consumption.
 97% of the total water quality is found in salt water
while only 3% of that is found in fresh water.
 Of that 3% , approximate 87% is glacier, 1% is
found in surface water(lakes and rivers) and 12% is
found as groundwater for our consumption

5. INTRODUCTION CONT….
 So you see, we already have limited supply of
groundwater. And it continue to face many threat due to
natural and anthropogenic activities.
 This produces a suitability of water for domestic use and
poses a threat to the environment as well as human
health.
 The problem found in this research is more as common
as many to many communities around the globe, which
poultry community is not an exception.
 It began with the desire for a community to increase
economic development this also increase the need for
groundwater quality.
 However if economics development began to increase
this also increase the amount of waste within the
community which can lead to an increase in
groundwater pollution

6. LITERATURE REVIEW
 Water makes up between 60 and 70 percent of plant
cells and about 70 percent of the human body (Smith
and Edger, 2006).
 The oceans hold 97 percent of the world's water, and
they also provide almost all of the water that falls as rain
and snow on land. Only 0.03% of the tiny amount of
freshwater is found in accessible surface waters, and
approximately a third is groundwater (Gleick, 1996).
 The main issue with water, especially in developing
countries, is contamination, whether it is natural or
human-caused. Water, particularly groundwater, can
become polluted once it has been contaminated and
can stay that way without treatment.

7. LITERATURE REVIEW
• Differences between Landfills and Dumpsites
• A dumpsite is an arbitrary location that permits the collection of
waste, whereas a sanitary landfill is an engineered system. Most
of the time, sanitary landfills are built in areas where runoff
and groundwater are not an issue.
• Open dumps can draw pests like flies and rats and release
unpleasant odor that are dangerous to people. Due to this, dumps
are regarded as unlawful and have been
replaced by landfills. Landfills under government regulation have
been created from communal dumps.
• According to Taylor and Allen (2006), when assessing the
situation, dumpsites are most often associated with
the contamination of groundwater by waste-derived
liquids. But any location where waste is processed, stored,
and concentrated, even temporarily, could be a point source of
groundwater contamination.

8. LITERATURE REVIEW CONT…….
 According to Lee and Jones (1991), the estimated 75,000
sanitary landfills have a leachate problem that affects about
75% of the nearby groundwater. Depending on the types of
waste deposited, leachate derived from waste deposits
(refuse dumps) contains a wide range of contaminations.
 Factors Affecting Groundwater Quality- there are several
important factors affect groundwater chemistry, such as
general geology, the degree of chemical weathering of
different rock types, recharge water quality, and inputs from
sources other than rock interaction. According to Aghazadeh
and Mogaddam (2010), such variables and their interactions
result in complex water quality.
 Groundwater quality is affected by both anthropogenic and
natural factors. Rock geology, distance from soil, vegetation,
climate change, sediment permeability, and topography are all
factors that affect groundwater.

9. METHODOLOGY
 Study Area
 Poultry community is located District #3, Paynesville City,
Montserado County, Republic of Liberia. A highly noticeable hillock at
the location has been severely eroded, exposing the subsoil as a
result of borrowing laterite from the surface.
Sample location Sample ID Matrix GPS Coordinates Sampling
Time
Sampling Date
North West
Poultry Community PC001 Water 6017’40” 10041’46” 9:29AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC002 Water 6017’42” 10041’35” 9:35AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC 003 Water 6017’44” 10041’37” 9:44AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC004 Water 6017’44” 10041’41” 9:49AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC005 Water 6017’45” 10041’37” 9:54AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC006 Water 6017’49” 10041’36” 10:02AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC007 Water 6017’48” 10041’35” 10:06AM April 20, 2023
Poultry Community PC008 Water 6017’52” 10041’33” 10:14AM April 20, 2023

10.  Data Types and Sources of Data
 The study used both the primary and secondary data.
Primary data was collected through direct field survey in
Poultry Community, Paynesville, Montserrado County.
Groundwater samples were collected from eight wells in
locations surrounding dumpsite. Water samples were
designated by PC00₁, PC002, PC00₃… PC008 and was
taken to the EPA for physical analyses.
 Analyses were carried out by EPA officials with
researcher in attendance and results were obtained for
interpretation. Secondary data comprised of information
from journals, articles, textbook and other publications.

11.  Sample and Sampling Techniques
 Systematic random sampling of water samples with direct field
survey methods was used for the gathering of data around the
dumpsite. Eight (8) groundwater sample points were cardinally
selected for the study.
 Parameters Examined
 This study examined five (5) physical parameters namely; pH, Total
Suspended Solid (TSS), Electrical conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved
Solid (TDS), and Turbidity (NTU). The conditions behind the
selection of these parameters were based on the parameters being
the common pollutant elements in groundwater around the dumpsite.
 Offsite analysis
 Examined parameters including pH, Electrical conductivity (μs/cm),
Total Suspended Solid (mg/L), Total Dissolved Solid (mg/L) and
Turbidity was analyzed at the Environmental Protection Agency.

12. RESULTS
Parameters
Unit
Instrument PC01 PC02 PC03 PC04 PC05 PC06 PC07 PC08 LWQS
Class I
Ph pH meter 6.80 6.85 6.90 6.66 6.31 6.11 5.63 5.87 6.5 – 8.0
EC Conductivity
meter
780.0 982.0 563.0 861.0 693.0 332.0 430.0 222.0 NS
TDS Gravimetric 377.0 493.0 281.0 433.0 346.0 166.0 215.0 111.0 ≤500.0
Turbidity Turbidity meter 3.14 25.4 11.8 5.58 1.96 2.21 0.25 37.4 ≤5.0
TSS colorimeter 17.0 64.0 23.0 10.0 5.0 6.0 2.0 47.0 ≤10.0
Note: the values in bold are above permissible limit; NS = Not Stated; ppm = Parts per million; mg/L = Milligram per liter;
μS/cm=micro Siemens per centimeter; LWQS Class I = Liberia Water Quality Standards Class I

13. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
 The purpose of finding the pH
value is to determine whether
the water is acidic or alkaline in
nature. Here we can observe
that the pH values of the water
sample labeled PC001 – PC006
were in the permissible limit of
the Liberia Water Quality
Standard, while PC007 and
PC008 were not in the
permissible limited of LWQS
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
PC01
PC02
PC03
PC04
PC05
PC06
PC07
PC08
PC01 PC02 PC03 PC04 PC05 PC06 PC07 PC08
ph value of water
resources
6.8 6.85 6.9 6.66 6.31 6.11 5.63 5.87
ph value of water resources

14. RESULT AND DISCUSSION CONT…..
 The electrical conductivity value
of all the samples varies in the
range of 222.0 to 982.0 µS/cm.
the maximum electrical
conductivity was found in the
sample PC002 (982.0) and the
minimum value was found in
sample PC008 (222.0)
 If the EC is high in drinking
water, it is harmful to human
health.
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Electrical Conductivity µS/cm
Electrical Conductivity
µS/cm

15. RESULT AND DISCUSSION CONT…..
 Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS) are the total
amount of mobile
charged ions, including
minerals, salts or metals
dissolved in a given
volume of water (mg/L).
 Here PC001 to PC008
were in the permissible
limited of the Liberia
Water Quality Standard
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Total Dissolved solid in water
resources
Total Dissolved solid in
water resources

16. RESULT AND DISCUSSION CONT…..
 It is the haziness or the
cloudiness of water that usually
occurs by the presence of large
numbers of particles which are
not visible to the naked eye. The
turbidity range is between 0.25
and 37.4NTU. We observed that
PC008 (37.4NTU) have highest
turbidity limit and PC007(0.25)
have the lowest turbidity limit.
 We also observed the PC002,
PC003, PC004 and PC008 are
above the permissible limit of
the LWQS
PC01 PC02 PC03 PC04 PC05 PC06 PC07 PC08
Turbidity 3.14 25.4 11.8 5.58 1.96 2.21 0.25 37.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Axis
Title
Turbidity

17. RESULT AND DISCUSSION CONT…..
 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
in drinking water refer to the
concentration of solid particles
that are suspended in the
water, which can include
organic matter, minerals and
microorganisms. If the TSS is
high it can lead to
gastrointestinal issues, such as
diarrhea and stomach cramps.
 This graph shows that PC001,
PC002, PC003 & PC008 are above
the permissible limit of LWQS
while PC004 – PC007 were in the
permissible limit of LWQS
PC01 PC02 PC03 PC04 PC05 PC06 PC07 PC08
TSS 17 64 23 10 5 6 2 47
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Axis
Title
TSS

18. CONCLUSLION
 Conclusion
 In conclusion groundwater is a universally valuable renewable resource
for human life and economic development.
 The study observes indiscernible migration of decomposed waste into
leachate from the base of the dumpsite to be the point source of
groundwater pollution.
 This obviously limits groundwater functions for various purposes (such
as domestic, industrial and agriculture). Implication of the groundwater
pollution could also be attributed to different health related problems.
 Concentrations of some variables were not detected. This indicates the
impact of time in parameter reduction. Concentration of the examined
parameters were analyzed, discussed and explained with relevant
statistical tools.
 Hydrogen ion (pH) has the highest degree of correlation with other
examined variables, that is, concentration of hydrogen ion in water
directly influenced some parameters. Of more important is their reduction
in relation to time. Also those well within the range of to the dumpsites c
were seriously affected.

19. RECOMMENDATION
 Toward the control of groundwater vulnerability to
pollution through dumpsite, there is need for adequate
and proper planning, design and construction, and
strategic management disposal of waste in Paynesville
City.
 Poultry Community operation of dumping site must be
stopped as soon as possible to solve groundwater and
public health problems and new engineered landfill
should be constructed with proper collection and
treatment of leachate.
 The government with water supply and sanitary,
Paynesville administrative council, Paynesville city
Sanitation, Beautification council, environmental and
public health concerned organizations should give prior
attention to the problem of dumping site, with regard to
public health and ground and surface water risks and
they must do their responsibility properly.

20. REFERENCES
 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. 30–40.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/60757547
 APHA AWWA, W. (1998). Standard methods for the examination
of water and wastewater 20th edition. American Public Health
Association, American Water Work Association, Water
Environment Federation, Washington, DC.
 Asadi, M. (2008). Investigation of heavy metals concentration in
landfill leachate and reduction of different coagulants.9(1), 23–
36. https://doi.org/10.9790/2402
 American public health association, (1989). Standard Methods
for the examination of water and wastewater.
 Bartone, C. (2000). Strategies for improving municipal solid
waste management Workshop on planning for sustainable and
integrated solid waste managemen,15(21).
https://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/3-2357- 7-
1529046600.