Geochemical-hydrological assessment of municipal solid waste disposal site to identify environmental risk areas

Diana Laura Montejo-Custodio, Iliana Margarita De la Garza-Rodríguez, Sonia Alejandra Torres-Sánchez, David Salvador García-Zaleta, Leydi Lorena Vázquez-Vázquez, Adriana Guadalupe Jiménez-Vázquez, Emanuel Hernández-Nuñez, Carlos Mario Morales-Bautista

Abstract


Background: Municipal solid waste landfills represent significant sources of environmental contamination due to leachate production and the mobilization of heavy metals into surrounding soils and aquatic systems. In rural regions of Mexico, the close spatial interaction between disposal sites and agricultural land increases vulnerability of water resources, food production systems, and local communities. Integrated environmental assessments combining soil, water, and hydrological analyses remain limited for small-scale landfills. This study addresses this gap by evaluating contamination dynamics at the Reforma de Pineda landfill in Oaxaca through a multidisciplinary approach. Objective: To assess the environmental impact of the municipal landfill on soil and water quality, quantify the occurrence and distribution of heavy metals, and identify priority monitoring zones using rainfall–runoff hydrological simulations. Methodology: Physical, chemical, and mineralogical analyses were conducted on soils collected from the landfill area and from a neighbouring mango orchard, together with the characterization of groundwater and surface runoff. Soil physicochemical properties, heavy metal concentrations, and mineral phases were determined using standardized analytical protocols. Hydrological modelling based on rainfall–runoff scenarios was implemented to delineate recharge zones and potential contaminant transport pathways under different precipitation conditions. Results: Landfill soils exhibited statistically significant differences relative to agricultural soils, particularly in pH, organic matter content, electrical conductivity, and field capacity. Elevated concentrations of V, Ba, Ni, Cr, and Pb were detected in landfill soils, whereas Cd remained below detection limits. Mineralogical characterization revealed quartz, kaolinite, microcline, and iron oxides as dominant phases influencing metal retention processes. Water analyses showed that Fe, Mn, V, Pb, and Cr exceeded regulatory thresholds in samples from an artisanal well and from landfill runoff. Hydrological simulations identified high recharge potential zones associated with preferential contaminant migration pathways. Implications: The observed contamination patterns indicate potential risks to groundwater quality, agricultural productivity, and human health, emphasizing the need for strengthened monitoring frameworks and improved landfill management practices. Conclusion: The Reforma de Pineda landfill represents a source of pollution that requires environmental mitigation management.

Keywords


environmental risk assessment; heavy metals; leachate; municipal solid waste; soil contamination.

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v29i2.67902

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