Hydrogeological Data Evaluation and Solid Waste Management at Al-Akeeder Landfill Site, Jordan: Assessing Pollution Risks

Abstract

Large quantities of waste from urban, municipal and industrial sectors are generated worldwide and disposed of in landfill sites. This can cause significant problems for groundwater as contamination can occur by infiltration recharge. The present research addresses a concern through an assessment of the pollution risk to the aquifer system at the Al-Akeeder site based on hydrogeological data and solid waste management. We consider the following risk elements: potential rates of waste input, leachate collection system, type of refuse, physical state of the refuse and its water content, monitoring system, disposal criteria and final cover. The environmental compatibility is estimated by applying an integrated method based on the depth of the water, which is the depth of the piezometric level relative to the ground surface (the SINTACS ratings relative to this parameter decreases with increasing depth), the effective infiltration, the unsaturated zone attenuation capacity, the soil attenuation capacity, the hydrological characteristics of the aquifer system, the hydraulic conductivity range of the aquifer, and the hydrologic role of the topographic surface average slope. The intrinsic vulnerability of the aquifer system within and around the study area is at a medium level. We suggest remediation measures to overcome the risks in the study area.