A study on the landfill leachate and its impact on the groundwater qualityof the greater area

Characterisation of the leachate originating from the Ano Liosia landfill ( situated in Attica region, Greece) as well as assessment on the quality of the local aquifer were carried out. The experimental results showed that mo st of the parameters examined in the leachate samples such as colour, condu ctivity, TS, COD, NH3-N, PO4-P, SO42-, Cl-, K+, Fe and Pb were found in hig h levels. The organic load was quite high since the COD concentrations were in the range of 3250-6125 mg L-1. In addition, the low BOD/COD ratio (0.09 6-0.195), confirmed that the majority of this organic matter is not easily biodegradable. The groundwater near the landfill site was characterised as not potable and not suitable for irrigation water, since most of the physic al and chemical parameters examined - such as colour, conductivity, DS, har dness, Cl-, NH3-N, COD, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Fe, Ni and Pb exceeded the permissib le limits given by EE, EPA and the Greek Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermo re, this study presents the application of the hydrologic evaluation of lan dfill performance (HELP) model for the determination of the yearly leakage from the base of the landfill after the final capping.