Al-Hikmah University Journal

The quest to satisfy human needs and wants and the development have led to the consumption

of various commodities and generation of wastes. This study investigated the effect of solid

waste dumpsite in Ganmo, south-western Nigeria on the underground water with the view to

assess the impact of the waste on the quality of the groundwater in the study area. Electrical

Resistivity Profiling and Vertical Electrical Sounding techniques of Werner and

Schlumberger configurations using Direct Data Capture (DDC-8) resistivity meter to acquire

data in the area were employed. Physico-chemical and Bacteria Analyses of the water sample

instudy area were carried out. Three sets of water samples were collected for hydro

physicochemical analysis and Bacterial analysis. The 2-D resistivity imaging showed zones

of low resistivity in the range 7.47 to 10.5Ωm with the depth ranging from 2.69 to 3.46 m. The

vertical electrical sounding results delineated three subsurface layers comprising topsoil,

weathered layer and the fresh basement. The low resistivity value could be an evidence of

dissolved particles from the decaying rubbish in the waste, forming the constituent of the

leachate. The results of hydro-physicochemical analysis of various parameters tested

indicated that the quality of the water in the study area was below the recommended standard

for drinking water by WHO and NSDQW. The bacterial analysis of the water sample showed

presence of bacterial species load of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella resulting from dissolved

particles from the decaying rubbish from the waste. However, based on the results of the

hydro-chemical and bacteriological status of the surrounding well water, it is concluded that

the groundwater is mostly unsuitable for domestic consumption.

Keywords: Leachate Plume, Resistivity, Contaminants, Healt