CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This chapter introduces what solid waste is all about including its

quality and effects on underground water. Solid waste commonly

known as trashes or garbage are wastes consisting of every of

day items we consume and discard.

It predominantly includes food waste, yard wastes, containers,

product packaging and over miscellaneous inorganic waste from

residential, commercial, institutional and industrial resources.

Underground water is the water found from beneath soil

underground. Underground water occurs as a result of rainfall

entering the soil surface. It may also occur as a result of

percolation from the surface into the soil. When rain falls to the

ground, the water does not stop, some flow along the surface to

the stream or lakes, while some are used by plants, some

evaporates and return to the atmosphere, while some sink into

1
the ground.when pouring a glass of water into a pile of sand, it is

obvious that the water will move space between particles of sand.

Scientifically, groundwater is found in the cracks and spaces in

the soil, sand and rocks.

It moves slowly through layers of soil, sand and rock called

aquifers typically consist of gravel, sand, stone or fractured rock,

like limestone. These particles are permeable because the large

connected space that allow water to flow through the speed at

which groundwater flows depends on the size of the spaces in the

soil or rock and how well the spaces are connected. The area

where water fall aquifer is called the saturated zone (or

saturation zone). The top of the zone is called the water table.

The water table may be leaked either a meter below the ground

surface or it consist of thirty metre down. Groundwater can be

found almost everywhere. The table water may be deep or

swallow and may rise or fall depending on many factors. Heavy

rains or melting snow can cause the water table to rise or heavy

fumbling groundwater supplies may cause the water table to fall.

2
Water in aquifers is brought to the surface naturally through

spring can or be discharged into lakes or streams. Groundwater

can also be extracted well drive into aquifers. A well is a pipe in

the ground that fuse with groundwater. The water can be brought

to the surface by a pump. Some wells call artesian wells, do not

need a pump because of natural pressure that forces water up

and out of the well. Groundwater supply are replenished or

recharged by rain and snow melt. In some areas of the world,

people face serious shortages of water because groundwater is

used faster than it is naturally replenished or recharged. If

ground becomes polluted it will not be safe to drink. Ground

water is used for drinking water by more than 50% of the people.

In the united states including almost everyone who lives in rural

areas. It is important for all of us to learn how to protect our

groundwater because of it’s important as a source of water for

drinking and irrigation. In other areas groundwater is polluted by

human activities in area where material above the aquifer is

permeable pollutant can be easily sink into the groundwater.

Groundwater can be polluted by landfills, septic tanks, leaking

3
underground gas tank and from over use of residual single and

multi-dwellings, food wastes, wood, papers cardboard, textile

leather, yard wastes, glass metals, ashes spell waste (bulky,

items, tyres) and household are hazardous wastes.

Industrial light and heavy manufacturing, fabrications power and

chemicals and plants, housekeeping waste, packaging, food

wastes, construction and demolition materials ashes are special

waste.

In other words, waste from hotels, resturants, markets, office

building (paper, cardboard, food plastic, glass metals).

Institutional schools, hospitals, prisons, government centres,

heavy and light manufacturing refineries, chemical plant material

extraction, industrial scrape materials, municipal services, street

cleaning, land scraping, parks, bleaching, recreational areas,

water and waste water management plants contribute immensely

to the contamination of groundwater and they are the most

common sources of waste generation. It is noted that solid

wastes have a great effect on the quality of underground water as

4
a result of percolation, infiltration, leachate and disintegration of

waste materials by the action or rainfall into the ground.

1.2 PROBLEM OF THE STUDY

The problem of solid wastes and its effect on the quality of

underground water is now the focus of attention all over the

world. The problem of waste generation in the country in the

recent past has been quite tremendous necessitating the need for

this project. In fact, the presence of waste scattered all over

cities and towns and even in institutions of higher learning is a

threat to health and embarrassment to the pleasant standard

expected of those areas. The menace of solid waste generation is

most prominent in develop and industrialized countries; this is

because complexity of generated waste is directly proportional to

development in science and technology. Construction and

operation of landfilling material, recovering system and

incineration system has become very costly. It is noteworthy that

the urban populace generates more waste than the rural areas.

5
this is because of the various form of commercial and industrial

activities going on in cities and which has brought an increase in

the volume and diversity of waste generated daily in the country.

These have some great effects on the underground water

consumption (borehole and well). It is therefore believed that in

consumption of underground watersuch as borehole and well

water certain tests needed to be carried out before consumption

in regulation with the principles of World Health organization.

These tests are;

PH test

Total coliform test

Test for nitrate [No 3-N]

Aerobic and sulphate reducing bacteria.

These tests are most important test carried out to know the

physical, chemical and biological effect of solid waste on

underground water before it could be suitable for consumption.

6
In addition, waste is such item which people are required to

discard. It can be defined as unavoidable material resulting from

the activities which has no immediate economic demand and

must be disposed of. Items such as household rubbish, sewage

sludge waste from manufacturing can give to a large variety of

different waste from different sources. Waste are generated every

day in all part of the world (Oluwamde, 1973). This is mainly

made up of waste coming from household, commercial activities

(e.g. shops, restaurants, hospitals) industry (e.g. pharmaceutical

companies, cloth manufacturers etc.) agriculture (slurry)

construction and demolition projects, mining and quarrying

activities and from the generation of energy. With such vast

quantities of waste being produced. It is of vital importance that

it is managed in such a way that does not cause any harm to

either human health or the environment.

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1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY.

1. To know the physical, chemical and biological effects of solid

wastes on underground water and to dermine the amout of

waste within the study area.

2. To determine whether the water pollution have dangerous

effect on the people and animals in the area of study or

environment.

1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1. To prevent all individuals, relevant organizations,

researchers from drinking underground water that is very

close to dumping areas in order to avoid deadly diseases.

2. To inform the people on the hazard and result of waste to

their health from drinking underground water especially

those that are very close to dumping areas in order to

prevent untimely death.

3. To educate people on the negative effects of water

population to health,

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1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study covers the town of Ikirun in Ifeiodun Local Government

in Osun State, South-West of Nigeria with thirty local

governments, only one town was explored by the researcher.

Ikirun is centrally located in Osun North-East division of Osun

State with latitude 7 degrees, 50 feet north of Equator and

longitude 4 degrees, 40 feet east of Green w” meridian. It is

bounded on the north by Inisia town in Ado-oti Local Government

Area, on the south by Osogbo, the Osun state capital, to the east

by Iragbiji town in Boripe Local Government and to the west by

Eko Ende town also in Ifelodun Local government.

In these towns, different wells are examined both in dry season

and rainy season especially those that are very close to the

dumping area. The difficulty encountered during the course of

this project was my inability to perform some tests which are

very expensive. This was due to the fact that required initial fund

to carry them out. Example of such tests are aerobic and sulphate

reducing bacteria tests etc.

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1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Percolation: this can be defined as the slow passage of

liquid through a filtrating medium. It is also known as the

process of water seepage through the soil.

2. Leachate: This is any liquid that in passing through matter

extracts, slows, suspends solid or over components of the

material through which it passed.

3. Infiltration: the process by which water on the ground

surface enters the soil.

4. Hazardous Wastes: these are wastes that poses

substantial or potential threats to public health or

environment.

5. Aquifers: These are underground layers of porous rocks or

sand that allow the movement of water between layers of

non-porous rocks (sand stone, gravel or fractured lime

stones or granule).

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6. Waste Prevention: It is the method of eliminating waste at

source and reducing the demand on natural or origin

resources.

7. Waste Re-use: It is the method of using a waste product

from one process as a raw material to form another.

8. Waste Recycles: This is the process of breaking down the

waste.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

After examining some of the literature in this area, it became

readily apparent certain groups or states had conducted and are

still conducting research on waste products. Since early 1950’s,

there has been more activity in the state of California in this

regard than any other states in the United State of America.

One of the first study was an in depth investigation on the

leaching of soluble salts and alkaline from incinerator ash dumps

(state of California 1952). Following this study, the city of

Riverside solid waste dump was used as the site for investigating

of the leaching properties of typical municipal refuse (State of

California1956) reports. Conclusion from the carried out

respectively regarding the effect of solid waste on groundwater

quality are;

1. Solid waste if so located that no portion of it intercepts

groundwater will not cause impairment of the ground water

for either domestic or irrigational uses.

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 2. Solid waste if so located as to be intermittent or continuous

contact with groundwater in the vicinity of the solid waste to

become grossly polluted and unfit for domestic or irrigational

uses.

2.2 DEFINITION OF WASTE

According to U.K’s Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste are

substance which constitute of scraped materials, efficient or other

unwanted surplus arising from application of any process of any

substance or article which requires to be disposed of which has

broken, worn-out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled.

In relation to Waste Management Licensing Regulations of 1994,

waste is any substance which the producer or the person in

possession of it discards or intends or required to discard but with

exception or anything exclude from the scope of waste directive.

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2.3 SOURCES OF SOLID WASTE

Waste are produced and the sources, the quality and composition

of refuse are determined by the features or the source. These

sources are domestic/residential solid waste.

2.3.1 DOMESTIC RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTES:

This category includes rejected solid materials that emanated

from shop owners and household unit consumption from

residential units. It contains organic materials. It usually

produces a very bad odour.

Rubbish/Trash:

This category consists of paper and product plastic cans, bottles,

glass metals, ceramic dirt, dust and garden waste. They are

mainly non-putrescible.

Ashes:

This type of waste is the residual from any combustion process,

e.g. firewood etc. resulting from household activities.

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2.3.2 COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL WASTE

They are mainly from banks, office, retail stores, restaurants

schools, hospital etc. apartfrom garbage rubbish and ashes. Other

types of waste which also fall under this category are:

Construction and Demolition Waste:

These includes planks, blocks, concrete, muds, plumbing and

electrical wiring. Some of them depends on the economy or their

use.

Special Waste:

They are usually solid and solid material generated by special

equipment in places like hospitals and research laboratories. They

include explosives, pathogenic materials etc. they are specially

collected and incinerated because of their hazardous nature.

Municipal Solid Waste:

These category includes the solid residue that results from the

municipality function services.

Others include;

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Street refuse

Dead animals

Abandoned vehicles

2.3.3 Industrial Solid Waste

These are of two categories; commercial and institutional

components and processed solid waste. The separation is due to

the difference in the quality and characteristics of the refuse.

Commercial/Institutional Waste:

Are produced by the office staff, the cafeteria and personnel

related activities.

Process Waste: are the residuals from manufacturing process

due to the fact that no plant is 100% efficient. as a result, there

will be raw materials and products that will form waste.

Agricultural Residue:

They are more prominent in the rural areas majorly because of

the problem they contribute.

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Crop residue; such as corn, wheat and soybeans are left and they

can serve as manure for soil.

2.4 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL HAZARD OF SOLID WASTE:

A problem frequently overlooked is that of physical and chemical

hazard that can result from certain components for examples;

1. Explosion hazard of solvent gasoline etc.

2. Toxic chemicals used as pesticides solvents etc.

3. Direct contact infected cuts, abrasions resulting from

contacts with broken glasses and sharp objects heavily

contaminated with bacteria.

2.4 WATER POLLUTION FROM SOLID WASTE:

Sanitary landfills are recent technology that has been gaining

ground. In the past, disposal sites were better definedas

dumps although there still exists many dumps all over the

17
country. Little attention was given to the manner in which the

refuse was placed and soil cover was used occasionally.

The population density and the cost of having therefuselong

distances requiring many of this disposal sites to be located

close to the populated areas. In the large urban areas of the

country like USA, the refuse was generally incinerated. In the

smaller communities, the lower population density made it

possible to find land areas relatively close by that could be

used for refuse disposal.

Unfortunately, there was no local pressure that require the

design and operation of engineered disposal sites.

Consequently, most of the refuse were simply dumped at

allocation or sites. No efforts were made to control the access

to water to the site. In fact, it was uncommon to dump refuse

into excavated land or gravel pit that was full of water.

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2.5 SOURCES OF WATER:

Water is a liquid material that comprises of two different

elements. Hydrogen and oxygen. It is the most important

component in the universe and it is required in all chemical

reactions.

Surface water: this occurs as the result of the precipitation that

is absorbed by the ground or evaporated back into the

atmosphere. Surface water becomes surface runoff as it flows

into the stream, lakes and wet land reservoir etc.

Groundwater: this results from the precipitation that infiltrates

into the ground and sip downward through fractures, pores and

other spaces in the soils and rocks. According to Matida

Campbell, 2001. Sources of water includes rain water, spring,

river and lakes, surface well, deep or artesian wells and tap

water.

Rainwater: this takes up dusts and gasses from the air and

organic matters from the roofs over which it is collected. The long

19
storing cistern gives bacteria opportunity to grow in large

numbers causing the water to be unsafe for drinking.

Spring water: this water is a source of pure water supply, if is

not contaminated by passing through soil which is polluted.

Rivers and lakes: these are common sources of water supply

but they may be made unfit for drinking. If the surface water and

sewage from towns and cities are allowed to drain into rivers.

Surface well: these are unsafe sources of drinking water supply

and the water should never be used when there are cesspools,

drains, barnyards or any other sources of contamination with a

radius of 60m of them.

Deep Artesian well: these furnish pure water as a rule unless

the piping is well tightly joined. When impure water from a

subsoil stream near the surface may enter the pipes.

Tap water: this is drinking water which comes from an indoor

tap or spigot. It is part of a larger indoor pumping system which

reverse a complex supportive infrastructure including stable

water. Source piping and filtration to keep due water safe .it is

20
the safest source of drinking. The germs present in the water are

being killed through test (e.g. biological, chemical and physical

test), before it is consumed by an individual.

2.6 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER

Water covers more than 70% of the earth surface, scientist

estimate that the atmosphere contains about 1.3 billion cubic

kilometers of this substances, mostly in form of liquid (water)

that occupies the topographic depression on the earth (pid

Wire.M.. 2006) the second most common from the water

molecule on the planets is ice, if all our planet is ice method, sea-

level would rise about 70-meter water is also essential for life.

Water is the major constant of almost all life forms most animal

and plant contain more than 60% of water by volume. The

molecular polarity causes water to be a powerful savantand is

responsible for its strong surface tension. Water has a high

specific heat that can be define as the amount of energy required

to change the temperature of a substance. Because water has a

21
highspecific heat. It can absorb large amount of heat energy

before it begins to get hot.

Water conduct heat more easily than any other bodiesliquid

except mercury. this fact causes large bodies of liquid water like

Lakes and Oceans to have essentially a uniform vertical

temperature profile.

Water molecules exist in liquid from over an important range of

temperature from 00c to 1000c. this range allows water molecule to

exist as a liquid in most places in our planet. Water is a universal

solvent. It is able to dissolve a large number of different chemical

compounds. This feature also enables water to carry solvents

nutrients in run-off infiltration and underground flow.

Water is adhesive and elastic and tends to aggregate in drops

rather than spread out over surfaces as a thin firm. This

phenomenon also causes water to stick to the sides or vertical

structure despite gravity’s downward pull. Water’s high surfaces

tension allows plant to move (and dissolved nutrient) from their

22
leaves and movement of blood through tiny vessels in the bodies

of some animals.

2.7 EFFECT OF RAIN WATER ON UNDERGROUND WATER

Rainwater is known as the purest form of water. but it is being

contaminated by some particles. In the atmosphere an important

measure of water quality is its PH. The letter (PH)describes the

acid of basic nature of a substance. Scientifically, a liquid PH is a

measure of the concentration of the hydrogen ions (Hi) it

contains. The Danish S.P.L Sorenson Originally proposed the

concept of the PH scale in 1909 as a method to describe the

acidity of beer.

The PH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with a value of 7 indicating a

natural PH (neither acidic nor base) distilled water has a PH of 7

bases or alkaline solutions (i.e. bleach ammonia) have values

greater than 7, acidic solution (i.e. battery acid, lemon and juice.)

each unit change in PH of rain and snow. The principal source of

ground water has PH values near 5.6 if it is relatively free of

23
pollution. However, in many areas of the united State, acid rain is

now the norm pollution because of pollution emission from

sources such as coal fired power plants and car exhaust. Acid rain

can have PH value near 14. These are concerns that acid rain is

having effect on vegetation and aquatic creation. Once on the

ground, it affect ground water PH. PH of groundwater will vary

depending on the composition of rocks and sediments that

surround tower path of the recharge water in filtrating to the

groundwater. Groundwater chemistry varies depending on how

long the existing groundwater is in contact with particular rock.

2.7 COLOUR DETERMINATION

Well water users can sometimes experience odour or staining

problems on appliance and laundry. If the odour is a rotten egg

associated with the well water, it shows that a hydrogen sulphate

and methane should be analyzed. If there is a musty or muddy

odour with well water, an iron bacterium should be analyzed. If

there is a problem with black staining of white laundry, the well

must be checked for magnesium. Then the analysis of the test

24
must be compared against (EPA) or state drinking regulations to

see if any contamination are exceeding recommending level.

2.8 TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLID WASTE (TSS)/TOTAL

DISSOLVED SOLID WASTE (TDS)

Total dissolved solid waste (TDS) is the portion of solid waste in

water that can pass through a micron filter. The more minerals

dissolved into the water, the higher the total dissolved solid are

generally of inferior portability. In drinking water, a limited of

500mg is desirable.

Total suspended solid (TSS). This is suspended collard particles in

water which will not settle out by gravity. The volume of sludge

produced in a treatment plant is directly related to the total

suspended solid.(TSS) present in the sewage industrial and storm

sewage may contain higher concentration than the domestic

sewage. The extent to which treatment plants removes solids, as

well as biology oxygen demand determines (MLA

STYLE)”suspended solid encyclopedia Britannia 2011 web is June

2011.

25
2.10TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLID WASTE (TDS)

Total dissolved solid waste (TDS) comprises inorganic salts

(principally, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, b1,

carbonate, chloride and sulphate) and some small amount s of

organic matters that are dissolved in water.

2.11DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO)

Oxygen is more easily dissolved into water with low levels of

dissolved or suspended solid. Water with higher amounts of salts

such as the ocean (which contains 35 grams of salts for each

1000 grams of water) have low concentration of DO, fresh water

lakes, stream and tap water generally contains much less salt, so

DO concentrations are higher. As the amount of salt in anybody

of water increases the amount of dissolve oxygen decreases.

An increase in salt concentration due to evaporation of water

from ecosystem tends to reduce the dissolved oxygen available to

the ecosystem inhabitants. The amount of groundwater entering

a river can influence oxygen levels. Groundwater usually have low

26
concentration of DO. But it is often colder than stream water.

Therefore, groundwater mayat first lower the dissolved oxygen

concentration. But as groundwater cools the stream or river, the

ability of the water to hold oxygen improves. Therefore, water to

be used for domestic water supply should not have dissolve

oxygen below 3 milligrams per litre (Colorado Department of

public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division, CD

PHE-WQCD).

2.12SOLID WASTE EFFECTS AND CONTROL ON UNDER

GROUND WATER

Soluble components of solid waste in contact with water change

the groundwater quality or indirectly by infiltration contaminated

surface water. Solid waste pollutes groundwater thereby affect

the hygienic conditions of human beings. According to Noring,

1951, Legrand 1965, the extent of intensely contamination

depends on the following factors.

1. Chemical and physical properties of the waste materials.

27
2. Man’s variable pattern of waste disposal and of accidental

release contaminants in the ground.

3. Duration and surface size of contact between waste

materials and in the saturated and unsaturated zone of the

ground varying in time.

4. Behaviour of the contaminants in the surface water and the

saturated zone of the ground.

5. Chemical and physical properties of rock environments

varying in space.

6. Influences of microorganism in the saturated and

unsaturated zone varying in time.

7. Quality of water percolating from surface or from other

aquifers of specific character varying in time.

8. Climatic condition varying in time.

9. Hydrological conditions varying in time and space

10. Man’s variable pattern of water development from

wells.

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Besides the chemical and physical properties of waste materials,

the position of the water site as to the groundwater table is of

greatest importance for the intensity if contamination. The waste

is leached to the greatest extent when deposited in the ground

water to the least in the case of waste dump above water table.

However, the proper sanitary work must be done before the

consumption of underground water. It is obvious that leachate

infiltration and percolation are the fundamental occurrence of

pollution of underground water. In spite of this, refuse should be

dumped in accordance with Environmental Protection agency’ rule

and regulations.

2.13TREATMENTS AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTES

Treatment and management of waste including prevention,

minimization, recycling, energy recovery and disposal, managing,

monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to

materials produced by human activity and the process is

generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the

environment or the aesthetic. Waste is distinct particles from

29
resources recovery which focuses on delaying the rate of

consumption of natural resources. The management of waste

treats all materials as single class, whether solid, liquid or

radioactive substances tried to reduce the harmful environmental

effect/impact of each through different method. (Hughes

G.M.R.A. London and R.N. Farvolden 1969). Waste management

practices differs from developed and under-developed nations for

urban and rural areas and for residential and industrial producers.

Management for nonhazardous waste, residential and institutional

waste in metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of local

government authorities’ management for nonhazardous

commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibility of

the generator(P.F Effer 1992, functional element of solid waste

management system). Resource recovery is the selective

extraction of disposed material for a specific next use such as

recycling, composting of energy generation. The aim of resource

recovery is to extract the maximum practical benefit from

product, delay the consumption of virgin natural resources and to

generate the maximum use of waste by using life cycle analysis

30
(LCA) to offer alternative to landfill disposal of discard materials

(Har 1-,S.A. 1967)have indicated that administration source,

separation andcollection followed re-use and recycling of non-

energy compost fertilizer production of waste fraction via

anaerobic digestion to be favoured alternatives to land fill

disposal.

However, recycling is a source recovery practice that refers to the

collection and re-use of the dispose materials as empty

beverages containers.

The materials from which the items are made can be reprocessed

into new product for recycling may be collected separately from

general waste using dedicated bins and collection vehicles or

sorted directly from mixed waste stream. The most common

consumer’s product recycled include aluminum such as beverages

cans copper such as wire, old steel, polythene etc.

31
 CHAPTER THREE

TYPES OF SOLID WASTE AND THEIR EFFECT

3.1 MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

Municipal waste also called municipality consist of everyday items

we use and then throw away(dispose) such as product packaging,

grass, clippings, furniture etc. the term municipality solid waste is

generally used to describe most of the non-hazardous solid waste

from a city, town or village that requires routine collection and

transport to a processing or disposal sites. Sources of MSW

includes private homes, commercial activities/establishments and

institutions as well as industrial facilities.

The types and effect that fall under this are;

3.1.1 FOOD WASTE

Food waste such as vegetables and meat materials leftover food,

eggshell etc. also known as wet garbage is the discharging and

potentially usable foods. Both edible and inedible foods may

consider garbage and therefore wasted. Edible foods are

32
considered inedible and when their quality deteriorate until they

become unhealthy or obnoxious food deterioration occurs from

microbial contamination of from rotting, as a consequence of over

production storage problems or improper preparations. Food

waste also occurs through food use that returns little nutritional

value, like over processing and over consumption.

3.1.3 PLASTIC

Plastic is a material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic

or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are movable and so

can be molded into solid objects.

Plastic are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass and

often contains other substances. They are usually synthetic most

commonly derived from petrochemicals.

Plastic waste comes about by littering of plastic materials. When

littered rain carries plastic waste (because of its light nature) into

streams and rivers and through drains. Drains leads to oceans.

33
Careless and improper waste disposal is also a big contribution –

illegal dumping of waste adds greatly to the plastic surge in our

seas.

EFFECTS

Plastic pollution from discarded water bathes, polysthene coffee

cups grocery bags, synthetic clothing, fiber and other waste,

break down into tiny bits or plastic. No bigger than the period at

the end of the sentence.

Micro plastics have been detected in water around the world

including our streams, lake and oceans. Plastic also leached into

the water. Degrading the water quality with toxic compounds and

end up harming human and animal health.

3.1.4 TETRA PACK

Tetra pack is the name of the company which created

hygienically, lightweight packaging for liquids. The first became

famous with their tetra-hadron shape packaging which was then

used for milk to replace grass bottles. Tetra pack is a packaging

34
material used in packaging foods, drinks and is easily identified

by the fact that it looks like cardboard packaging but it has a

silver inside lining and certain liquid. It is a terrible waste because

it is composite.

Tetra pack waste is gotten from/when water carries this waste

into streams, rivers or lakes.

EFFECTS

It can expose people to chemical and radioactive hazards. It can

also obstruct storm water runoff, resulting into information of

stagnant water bodies that become the breeding ground for

diseases. It also attracts flies which in turn brings about disease

and sickness thereby bringing rise to health problems.

3.2 HAZARDOUS WASTES

Hazardous wastes are wastes generated from wide range of

activities including manufacturing, forming, water treatment

systems, construction, automotive, garages, laboratories,

hospitals and other industries. These waste may be liquid, solid,

35
or sludge and contain chemicals, heavy metals radiation and

pathogens or other materials. Even households generate

hazardous waste from items such as batteries used computers

equipment and leftover paints or pesticides.

Hazardous wastes are waste that has substantial or potential

threats to public health or the environment.

Characteristics of hazardous wastes are materials that are known

or tested to exhibit one or more of the following hazardous

threat.

 Ignitability

 Reactivity

 Corrosiveness

 Toxicity

3.2.1 ignitable waste

These are waste that are burn at relatively low temperature (60

0
c) and are capable of spontaneous combustionduring storage,

transport or disposal.

36
Examples and effect of these include

1. Gasoline:

Gasoline is a pale brown or pink liquid made from processed

crude oil. It evaporates easily. It is very flammable and can form

explosive mixtures in the air.

Effects

When exposed to water, it contaminates groundwater and the air.

Breathing small amount of gasoline vapour can lead to nose and

throat irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion

and headache.

When water is contaminated with gasoline end it makes physical

contact with the skin, it could lead to rashes, redness and

swelling.

2 Alcohol:

Alcohols (ethanol or ethyl alcohol) is the ingredient found in beer,

wine and spirit that causes drunkenness. Alcohol is found when

37
yeast ferments (breaks down without oxygen) the sugar in grapes

beer from the sugar in malted barley (a type of grain).

Alcohol has effect on every organ of the body. When water is

contaminated with alcohol the oxygen level is being reduced.

Effect

The oxygen level of water is reduced when water is

contaminated, water can have serious effect on the health of an

individual.

Diseases such as dysentery, hepatitis or other long term effect

such as certain types of cancer may also result exposure to

polluted water.

3.2.2 REACTIVE WASTE

These are waste that have a tendency to react vigorously with air

and water and are unstable to shock or heat, generate toxic

gases or explode during routine management examples and

effects of reactive waste include

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GUN POWER:

This is black powder (explosives) which consist of a mixture of

saltpeter (potassium nitrates) sulfur and charcoal. When prepared

in roughly the correct proportions (75 percent saltpetre, 15

percent charcoal and 10 percent sulfur).

Effect

It contains potassium nitrate which when in excess interfere with

the ability of the blood to carry oxygen causing headache,

fatigue, dizziness and a blue color to the skin and lips.

(Methemoglobinemia) higher level can cause trouble in breathing,

collapse and even death. Potassium Nitrate may also affect the

kidney and cause anemia.

It also contains Sulphur which when in excess can lead to

diarrhea and dehydration.

The charcoal is made up of also leads to colour in waste whereas

we know what qualifies water is that it has no colour, odour or

taste.

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GLYCERIN

This is a simple polyol compound. It is a colourless, odourless

viscous liquid that is sweet testing and non-toxic.

Effect

When groundwater contain glycerin consumption may cause

headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and excessive thirst in

some individuals.

3.2.3 CORROSIVE WASTE

These are waste that comprises of different chemical and toxic

substance.

These are waste that destroys materials and living tissues by

chemical reactions.

Examples and effect include.

ACID

An acid is a chemical substance usually a liquid which contains

hydrogen and can react with other substance to form salt. Some

40
acid burn or dissolved over substance that they came into contact

with.

Acid is a compound having a sour taste and capable of

neutralizing alkalis and reddening blue litmus paper, containing

hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal and or electropositive

group to form a salt, or containing an atom that can accept a pair

of electron from a base.

Effects

When water is contaminated with acid the PH of water can

indirectly affects one’s health. Water with acidic PH can corrode,

plumbing and leach metal iron, manganese, copper, lead and zinc

are commonly found in acidic water. It places adults at risk for

health problems, such as cancer, stroke, kidney disease,

memorial problem and high blood pressure.

Drinking acidic water exposes one’s body to heavy metals and

minerals presents in the water.

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BASE

Base is a substance that aqueous solution releases hydrogen

(OH.) ions, are slippery to the touch and taste bitter if an alkali

changes the colour of indicators e.g. reacts with acid to form salt,

promote certain chemical reactions, accept protons from any

proton donor etc.

Effects

The phenomenon of acid precipitation detrimentally affects

aquatic ecosystems to a presently unknown degree. Complex

geo-chemical processes in soils are important factors

determining the quality of percolates which infiltrates down to

ground water systems.

Elevated base cation and trace metal concentration in ground

water may result in corrosive or toxic water quality conditions.

Consequent discharge of effected groundwater to surface water

bodies result in detrimental effect to water quality and ambient

aquatic life.

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3.2.4 TOXIC WASTE

Toxic wastes are waste that result from industrial, chemical and

biological processes. Toxins are found in household, office and

commercial wastes.

These are wastes containing dangerous pathogens such as used

syringes. Examples of common products are routinely part of

toxic wastes, streams of industrial countries include batteries for

electronic devices, pesticides and heavy metals etc.

Groundwater are contaminated with uranium and over toxic

chemicals and more than 63.5 million metric tons of radioactive

waste. These waste are poisonous in small or trace amount.

PESTICIDE

Pesticides are substance that is meant to control weeds, pests.

These pesticides include herbicide, insecticides (which may

include insects group regulation termites etc.)

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In general, pesticides are a chemical or biological agent such as

virus, bacterium or fungus that deters, incapacitates, kills or

otherwise discourage pests.

Effect

Poisoning occurs when toxic waste is injected, inhaled or

absorbed by the skin.

The health effect of the pesticide depends on the chemical

characteristic before the 1940’s, most pesticides were compounds

of arsenic, mercury, copper or lead.

Although, these compounds may have made their way into

drinking water, they are not highly soluble and the residue

ingested in food were of far greater concern studies of the health

effect of pesticides on human focus on two aspects, the acute

toxicity or immediate effect resulting from short term exposure

and the chronic toxicity/effects resulting from long term

exposures.

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When these toxic acids are found in water it leads to kidney

damage or death at higher doses. It is hazardous to human

health and also lead to cancer.

HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have a high

atomic weight and a density of at least 5 times greater than that

of water. Their multiple industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical

and technological application have led to their wide distribution in

the environment raising concerns about their potential effect on

human health and environment.

Effect

The biological system heavy metals have been reported to affect

cellular organelles and components such as cell membrane

mitochondrial, lysome, endoplasmic reticulum. It also affects

nuclei and some plasmic reticulum. It also affects nuclei and

some enzymes involved in metabolism and detoxification.

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Metal ions have been found to interact with call components such

as DNA and nuclear protein causing DNA damage and

conformational changes that may lead to cycle modulation.

3.3 INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Industrial solid waste is defined as waste that is generated by

businesses from an industrial or manufacturing process or waste

generated from non-manufacturing activities that are managed as

a separate waste stream.

Business that utilize manufacturing or industrial processes or that

service or commercial establishment are likely producing

industrial solidwaste. This is a special classification of non-

hazardous waste that requires by state law special evaluation to

determine the proper disposal method.

These are waste produced by industrial activities which includes

any materials that is rendered useless during a manufacturing

process such as that of factories industries, mills and mining

operations. Examples and effect of these waste include.

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GRAVEL

A gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragment. Gravel is

classified by particle size range and includes size classes from

granule to boulder-size fragments. When gravel is disposed in

groundwater, it affects the quality of the water. The effect is as

follow.

Effects

Pits and quarries disturb the existing movement of water i.e.

surface water and groundwater. They interrupt natural water

discharge and can lead to reduced quantity and quality of ground

water like drinking water for residents i.e. wide life near or

downstream from a quarry site, potential impairment of water

quality on the site including harm to the aquifer. The water

quality of residential wells close by could be harm. The water

level of onsite lakes could reduce detrimentally affecting

provincially specific wet lands. It could also lead to loss of

habitats

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CHEMICAL/OIL/SOLVENT

When groundwater contains chemicals oil or solvent and it is

being dumped in the stream or carried to the stream by

movement of water. This chemical also causes reproductive

failure in birds and mammals.

It could lead to ingestion (inhalation and skin contact resulting in

Acute or ionic poisoning). These chemicals include lead which can

affect red blood cells by reducing their ability to carry oxygen and

shortening their life span.

3.4 AGRICULTURAL WASTE

These are waste produced as a result of various agricultural

operations. It includes; manure and other waste from farms,

poultry houses and slaughter houses, harvest waste, fertilizers

run off from fields, pesticides that enter into water, air or soils

and salt and silt drained from fields.

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Examples of these waste includes groundnut shell also known as

hemicellulose A1 has been shown to contain residues of xylose

and D- give conic acid.

Paddy husk

This is also known as the rice husk. It is theouter most layer of

the paddy grain that is separated from the rice grain during the

milling process.

Straw of cereals

Straw is an agricultural bye product consisting of the dry stalks of

cereal plants after the grain and chaff has been removed. It

makes up about half of the yield of cereal crop such as barley,

oats, rice, rye and wheat.

Effect

Agricultural waste may expose workers to harmful biological

material (biohazards). Storing agricultural waste can lead to

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multiply the hazard associated with it since stored waste can

release harm full gases.

Groundnut shell arrests metal ions by forming meta complexes

from the water.

If more C.N ratio like paddy husk or straw husk it may cause

immobilization of nutrients if applied on the field, it effects to

ground occupies a large area if not properly disposed. It

contaminates groundwater by putting aquatic habitat lives at risk.

These little straws are mistaken for food by sea creatures

especially whales and cannot be digested.

It also causes bloating which is related to gas and it has another

side effect that everyone would love to avoid. The same gases

cause farting which makes or causes bloating.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

RECOMMENDATIONANDCONCLUSION

4.1 RECOMMENDATION

From the above findings,the following recommendations are

suggested.

1. Appropriate place should be located at the outskirt of the

town for refuse disposal.

2. The water supply around the vicinity should be treated at

least three times in a year.

3. The regulatory agency should employ a geologist on its staff

list. Preferably one trained in the area of hydrology to assist

in solid waste site selection within the states.

4. future effect of a particular solid wastes operation.

5. The regulatory agency should not discourage novel method

of collecting and treating refuse leachate for certain

installations where proper monitoring can be exercised.

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6. The regulatory agency should encourage the practice of

regional or district approaches to solid wastes collection and

disposal. Economic incentives should be available to provide

funds to make area wide feasibility studies. This approach

will reap great benefits in the control of soil waste disposal

practice.

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4.2 CONCLUSION

The focus of the study was on the impact of solid waste on the

quality of underground water. It is found that with the increase in

the population and the rising demands for food and other

essentials. There is rise in the amount of waste generated daily

by each household and community and these waste are

sometimes dumped in water bodies such as streams etc. these

wastes are serious hazards and lead to the spread of infectious

diseases.

The establishment and closure of landfills could pose a potential

hazard to ground water, due to leachate, seepage and air quality

due to gases released. Unless proper maintenance and

management is sustained for a fairly long time, public health

maybe compromised as a result.

Dumping of solid waste on landfill/underground water could bring

above grave consequences by 20 years’ time or before. Clear and

decisive actions may be taken to avert costly and environmentally

comprising means for disposing of our waste in the future.

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The chapter three of this study shows the different types of solid

waste. What are the alternative for the disposal of these human

waste safely? In order to reduce the amount of solid wastes

generated and dumped in the water bodies. The recycling of

waste should be planned and reinforced. The heterogeneity of the

waste makes it even harder for it to be reused as a raw material.

To improve this, the separation of wastes in its sources and its’

sorting would be the first step in waste management strategy.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

REFERENCES

WASTE MANAGEMENT LICENSING REGULATION 1994

UK’S ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT 1990

LEACHING PROPERTIES OF TYPICAL MUNICIPAL REFUSE STATE

OF CALIFORNIA

LEACHING OF SOLUBLE SALTS AND ALKALIES FROM

INCINERATOR ASH DUMPS STATE OF CALIFORNIA (1952)

(MLA STYLE) SUSPENDED SOLID ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA

2011 WEB 13 JUNE 2011

COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANDENVIRONMENT

WATER QUALITY CONTROL DIVISION, CD PHE – WQCD.

HUGES, G. M. R. A. LONDON AND R.N FARVOIDEN 1969.

Effer, P.F. (1992). FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SOLID WASTES

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

55