Impact of Gundluhalli Terraform Landfill Site Near Bangalore on Groundwater Quality and Human Health

The open dumping or landfill method is most commonly used for the disposal of solid waste in cities of underdeveloped and developing countries. These landfills without any engineering controls are causing water, soil, and air pollution along with health effects on the people settled in surrounding areas of landfill sites. In the present study, the impacts of a landfill site on groundwater quality and human health are highlighted. Leachate samples and fourteen grab bore well water samples around the Gundluhalli waste dump were collected and tested for physical, chemical, and heavy metals as per standard methods. Analysis of bore well samples indicates that the groundwater is unfit for drinking purposes and that open dumping has polluted the groundwater. To study the effects of the landfill on the surrounding human settlement, health data were collected from 78 households via questionnaires near the Gundluhalli Terraform Landfill Site. The analysis of the health data shows that residents whose houses are less than 3 kilometres from the dumpsite are victims of several health issues, and residents whose houses are more than 3 kilometres away are also affected by the dumpsite's air pollutants and bad smell. The study concludes that dumpsites should be located at least 3 kilometres away from human settlements. The study recommends that dumpsites be properly located and managed to minimise their effects on human beings and on the environment.