Geochemical evidences of landfill leachate in groundwater

Abstract

To evaluate the environmental risks associated with leachate flowing into groundwater resources, in the present research, a hydrogeological and geochemical monitoring of the two principal aquifer systems developed below the landfill of Sant'Agostino (Ferrara Province, Northern Italy) was performed. Several stratigraphic columns and penetrometric tests have been analysed in order to reconstruct in detail a lithological and hydrogeological model of the underground. The integrated elaboration of the data allowed to obtain information and to make inferences on i) the influence of the landfill on the contamination of the underground resources (high concentration in the same elements, like Cl, Al, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni); ii) the contribution of the frequency in lithological variability (sand–peat–clay) on the propagation process of the contaminant elements on the aquifer system; iii) the importance of the position of the monitoring network on the identification of the pollution process and the protection of the water resources