EFFECTS OF WASTE DISPOSAL SITES ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN URBAN KANO, NIGERIA

摘要

The importance of groundwater resources to the sustenance of human societies and ecosystems cannot be overemphasised. It is, therefore, a cause for concern that groundwater aquifers in many urban areas are impacted continuously by the wide-ranging anthropogenic activities. Improper solid waste disposal remains a key challenge to the quality and sustainability of groundwater across many parts of the world. The leachate formed as a result of the physical and biochemical processes occurring in the disposal sites is usually concentrated with organic, inorganic and heavy metal contaminants. Migration of the leachate to the aquifer renders the groundwater polluted and, thus, unsuitable for drinking and other purposes.