| dc.description.abstract | The influence of leachate from Kiteezi landfill (Kampala, Uganda) was investigated to quantify
the variations of water quality during November 2021 to January 2022. Leachate and water
Samples were collected from different sites around the landfill. Water sampling sites were
established upstream and downstream. The effect of distance on the concentration of pollutants
in the leachate discharge stream with respect to potential pollutant sources was investigated.
Samples were analyzed for various Physical parameters; (turbidity, solids, EC, colour), Chemical
parameters; (pH, nitrates, TN, TP, iron), Biochemical parameters; (BOD, COD), Microbial
parameters; (E-coli, total coliform) and heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr). The result
showed that the concentration of all parameters in the leachate will reduce as it flows downstream
if not mixed with secondary sources of pollution as observed at SWP2. The secondary sources
of pollution i.e. the community and the industries have significant effects on the concentration
of BOD, EC TDS, TSS and turbidity at the different points of observation. These discharges
increase the values of COD, BOD5, TDS, TSS, EC, and Turbidity between SWP2 and SWP4 by
10.1%, 17.9%, 39.3%, 16.5%, 27.1% and 34.1% respectively. The results of various parameters
determined strongly suggested that Kiteezi landfill leachate had severe deleterious impact on the
surface water though the walufumbe stream and would impose serious risks to the ecosystem
downstream. The parameters including (turbidity, solids, EC, colour), Chemical parameters;
(pH, nitrates, TN, TP, iron), Biochemical parameters; (BOD5, COD), Microbial parameters; (E coli, total coliform) exceeded the allowable limits of WHO, East African Community and
National Environmental Quality Standards for Uganda. Heavy metals in the leachate were found
in concentrations below the effluent discharge standard. The parameters such as nitrates showed
no relationship with the quality of leachate, this implies that as leachate may be a threat to
groundwater around Kiteezi landfill, there is significant pollution from the community on
groundwater. The existence of numerous pit latrines and animal waste deposits have been found
to have contributions in the pollution of groundwater. Analysis also showed that leachate, though
in minimal quantities have more impacts on the shallower downstream sources closer to the
landfill than the deeper sources, far from and in the upstream direction of the landfill, Water
Integrated, multi-sector approaches are required to deal with the contamination problem and
sustainable management of the Kiteezi landfill leachate to reduce the threat it possesses on the ecosystem downstream. | en_US |
