Assessment of the Quality of Water Resources around the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Langarud in 2021

Abstract

Background & objectives: Water resources are often exposed to pollutants related to urban waste disposal. This study aimed to determine the quality of water sources around the landfill of Langrod City in 2021. Methods: Methodology: This cross-sectional study selected two springs upstream, two water sources (well and spring) downstream of the landfill site, and a river (with two sampling stations) near the landfill site as the studied water sources. Sampling and analysis of physical (temperature, turbidity and TSS), chemical (pH, EC, TDS, BOD5, COD, nitrate, sulfate and heavy metals) and microbial (coliform and E.coli) parameters of water quality and soil samples of the region with Standard methods were performed. The data were analyzed by comparison with Iranian standards, Schuler and Wilcox indices. Results: In all water samples, the turbidity was more than the desired level, and the concentration of all chemical parameters was lower than MCL in the Iranian standard for drinking and irrigation. In the downstream well of the landfill, the total concentration of nitrite and nitrate measured compared to the recommended values in drinking water was almost four times the Iranian standard. The number of coliform and E. coli in all water sources was higher than the permissible limit of Iran's standard for drinking. The quality of all water samples, based on the Schuler diagram (drinking), was acceptable to good, and according to the Wilcox index, except for the downstream river of the landfill, they were in the medium salty category and were relatively suitable for agriculture. Conclusion: The quality of water sources upstream and downstream of the Langrod urban waste landfill site was similar, and the water quality of the river downstream of the landfill was high salty and suitable for agriculture with the necessary considerations (drainage).