Detailed monitoring of groundwater quality near municipal solid waste landfills. Case study in Valencia region (Spain)

Municipal solid waste landfills are one of the most relevant soil and groundwater pollution sources. Monitoring networks should be designed on the preliminary phases to guarantee that groundwater quality control is performed periodically over both the operation and post-closure phase of the landfill.

This work shows the results of a groundwater quality detailed monitoring campaign developed on a municipal solid waste landfill in Valencia Region (Spain). The sampling campaign included the continuous analysis over 11 boreholes of the following parameters: mineral oil, As, B, Ba, Cd, Chlorine, electric conductivity, TOC, total Cr, Cr VI, Cu, COD, phenols, fluorine, total P, Hg, hydrocarbons, Mo, total N, Ni, Pb, pH, Sb, Se, suspended solids, sulphates and Zn. Besides, the piezometric levels around the landfill were also controlled.

Despite there is no clear Spanish legislation concerning groundwater quality, results show that the evolution of groundwater quality over time is satisfactory, fulfilling the requirements of the American (USEPA) and European (Dutch) legislation standards.