Rafaela ́s landfill influence on groundwater: Water Quality Index Analysis.

Abstract

In response to population growth and the generation of urban solid waste, sanitary landfills (SR) have become a common solution. These facilities minimize environmental and public health impacts through anaerobic decomposition processes generating leachates; however, they are contaminating liquids that vary depending on factors such as humidity and age of the landfill. This research analyzes, through the Water Quality Index (WQI), how the Rafaela ́s SR has affected the quality of groundwater by comparing values before, after its inauguration and through its evolution. Nine groundwater wells, upstream and downstream, were monitored semiannually. This multiparametric method that allows us to evaluate water quality and its vulnerability to contaminants resulted in the fact that none of the monitored wells have water suitable for human consumption and that the low quality obtained is due to natural characteristics of the place studied.