Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment Near Jawahar Nagar Dump Yard Based On Leachate Characteristics

Abstract

The rapid expansion of urban centers in South Asia has intensified challenges surrounding groundwater contamination, particularly from unregulated municipal solid waste landfills. This study conducts a comprehensive groundwater vulnerability assessment in the vicinity of the Jawahar Nagar dump yard in Telangana, India one of the country’s largest and most active landfill sites. Employing an integrated multi-index approach, the research investigates spatiotemporal variations in groundwater quality through physicochemical profiling, heavy metal analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and diagnostic indices such as the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Leachate Pollution Index (LPI). Groundwater samples from seven borewells and leachate from two collection ponds were analyzed across pre- and post-monsoon seasons during 2021 and 2022. Results revealed pronounced exceedances in EC, TDS, nitrate, phosphate, and heavy metals particularly lead (up to 0.025 mg/L), arsenic (0.28 mg/L), and cadmium (>0.003 mg/L) at borewells located downgradient from the landfill (GW1–GW4). Leachate samples exhibited high organic loads (COD up to 2400 mg/L, BOD/COD > 0.3), reflecting strong biochemical activity and seasonal mobilization. A strong inverse correlation (R² > 0.85) between WQI and LPI confirmed the direct impact of leachate on aquifer degradation. The findings underscore the urgent need for engineered containment systems, seasonal monitoring, and regulatory reforms. The dual-index framework introduced herein offers a robust, replicable tool for assessing landfill-induced groundwater risk, with broader implications for urban water security and environmental policy in rapidly developing regions.