Effect of Landfill Leachate on Ground Water Quality in Kodungaiyur dumpsite using Geospatial Technology

In this study, the ground water quality around the Kodungaiyur dump site in Chennai has been studied. Water samples were taken at 10 locations at a radii of 500 m and 1000m respectively around the dumpsite and analysed for 15 physico-chemical parameters: pH, turbidity, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Chlorides, Total Hardness (TH), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sulphate, bicarbonates, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and heavy metals (Iron, Zinc, Copper). Samples were taken for both pre-monsoon and post monsoon seasons. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated and compared with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards 2011. The results indicate that the quality of water is poor to very poor as per WHO standards. The results were interpolated using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) and a geo-spatial distribution map of pollutants around the landfill was also made using GIS software.