Pollution assessment of the Epe wet-land dumpsite

What is it about?

The study involved integrated geotechnical and geophysical assessment of waste pollution impact on the soil and groundwater resources at a pilot wet-land waste dumpsite in Epe, Lagos Nigeria. Eleven locations at the site were lithologically logged to a depth of 20 m and analyzed for hydraulic/hydrogeological parameters. The geophysical investigation adopted both 1D VES and 2D profiling electrical resistivity method. The survey area is underlain by fine-medium grained sands with coefficient of uniformity < 6; mean bulk-density of 1.89±0.162 g/cm3; porosity: 37.84±8.42%; and permeability: 3.0 x 10 ± 1.1 x 10 cm/sec. The 2D images identify leachate impacted zone beneath the waste dump site and its periphery that is characterized by relatively low resistivity values (4 to 165 Ωm). The fresh water saturated sandy formation is characterized by relatively high layer resistivity values (5681- 9889 Ωm). The study concluded that the sandy nature of the subsoil and its moderate permeability aided subsoil and groundwater pollution by leachate to depths in excess of 15 m.

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Photo by Ariungoo Batzorig on Unsplash

Photo by Ariungoo Batzorig on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Until recent time when the Epe dumpsite was established on low lying wetland, refuse dumping had usually been upland. It is so believed by some schools of taught that wet-land has a self-purification ability. The paradigm shift has been a source of concern, because the policy violated classical criteria in landfill location. This study therefore intends to investigate the impact of the Epe wetland dumpsite on the soil/subsoil and water resources around the waste dumpsite using integrated approach.