Hydrogeochemical Analysis and Spatial Distribution of Groundwater Quality in Roundhill Landfill Vicinity of South Africa

• Main Authors: Joan Nyika, Ednah Onyari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-08-01
• Series: Air, Soil and Water Research
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1178622119872771

Groundwater is the most reliable resource for consumptive uses worldwide, but it is vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution in this post-industrialization era. Pollution of the resource may result from anthropogenic activities; hence, analysing the effects of leachate on groundwater is imperative. This study assessed the spatial distribution of physicochemical parameters of groundwater in Roundhill landfill vicinity of South Africa and conducted their hydrogeochemical analysis. Water samples were collected from 3 boreholes in the landfill surroundings and analysed for selected physicochemical characteristics. Spatial distribution of these parameters showed dominant pollution by Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , and N H 4 + , which surpassed prescribed allowable limits of the country in most of the study area. Possibilities of simple dissolution and ion mixing were deduced from the Durov diagram. Magnesium carbonate, sodium chloride, and mixed faces of groundwater were dominant in boreholes 1 to 3, respectively. The dominance of Ca 2+ , Cl − , Mg 2+ , and N H 4 + ions in some boreholes suggested anthropogenic pollution. Landfill leachate was associated with groundwater pollution in the study area.