A STUDY ON SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER NEAR A GARBAGE DISPOSAL SITE IN GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA

The present investigation was carried out to assess the impact of leachateon the groundwater and surface water quality nearthe unlined open dumping site at Guwahati, Assam. Groundwater and surface water samples have been collected from near the open dump within a radius of 3000m. The physico -chemical characterisation (pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Free CO 2, Dissolved oxygen, Electrical conductivity and Total d issolved solids) of the groundwater and surface water samples collected from around the open dump has been done. The concentration of trace metals (Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd and Cu) in groundwater and surface water has been studied. Mn and Cd in groundwater havebeenfound to be in higher range than the Maximum permissible limit (MPL) as per WHO and BIS IS: 10500. In surface water, the concentration of Mn has been found to be higher than the MPL specified by WHO and CPCB. Toxic leachate flowing from the base of the du mp continuously mixes with the nearby surfac e water as well as the aquifers neighbouring villages are users of both groundwater and surface water sources thereby causing potential health risk.