Environmental Geology

, Volume 50, Issue 7, pp 1095–1103 | Cite as

Electrical geophysical and hydrogeological investigations of groundwater aquifers in Ruseifa municipal landfill, Jordan

  • E. Al-Tarazi
  • A. El-Naqa
  • M. El-Waheidi
  • J. Abu Rajab
Original Article

Abstract

The effect of the Ruseifa municipal landfill on the shallow groundwater aquifers in the area was investigated in two separate sites. The first one was not used since 1994, whereas the other is still being used for dumping. Fourteen electrical resistivity soundings were performed to detect the leachate and its effect on the quality of the groundwater. Results indicated that the solid waste thickness of the landfill was ranged from 3 to 20 m with resistivity value less than 10 Ω m. Based on the resistivity decreases of values less than 5 Ω m, the leachate was detected in the landfill sites at depths ranged from 10 to 50 m. However, the flow direction of the leachate at depth ranging 10–20 m in the terminated site was toward north, whereas the flow direction of the leachate in the site still used for dumping was toward east–northeast which causes the major source of groundwater pollution.

Keywords

Electrical resistivity Landfill pollution Hydrogeological Jordan 

Notes

Acknowledgements

This paper is part of a research funded by the Higher Council of Science and Technology (HCST) in Jordan. The authors express great gratitude for the HCST. Many thanks for the Hashemite University for offering support during the geophysical and hydrogeological measurements.

References

  1. Bender F (1974) The geology of Jordan, contribution to the regional geology of the earth, supplementary edition of volume 7. Gebrueder Borntraeger, BerlinGoogle Scholar
  2. Braticevic D, Karanjac J (1997) Groundwater information system software (GWW). United NationGoogle Scholar
  3. Fetter C (2001) Applied hydrology. Prentic Hall Inc., New JerseyGoogle Scholar
  4. Frohlich R, Urish D, Fuller J, O’Reilly M (1994) Use of geoelectrical methods in groundwater pollution surveys in a coastal environment. J Appl Geophys 32:139–154CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Howard and Humphreys (1983) Monitoring and evaluation of the Amman–Zarqa aquifer. Amman Water and Sewage Authority report, vol 1Google Scholar
  6. Interprex Limited (1998) Resix, scientific software program. Golden CO 80401-1906, USAGoogle Scholar
  7. Kuisi M (1992) Assessment of the physical and inorganic chemical parameters of surface and groundwater resources in Amman–Zarqa area, strip of the Zarqa river basin. MSc thesis, University of JordanGoogle Scholar
  8. Masri M (1963) Report on the geology of Amman-Zarqa area, Central Water Authority, 1-74 (unpublished report), Amman, JordanGoogle Scholar
  9. Matias M, Marques da Silva M, Ferreira P, Ramalho E (1994) A geophysical and hydrogeological study of aquifers contamination by a landfill. J Appl Geophys 32:155–162CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Mikbel S, Zacher W (1986) The Wadi Shueib structure in Jordan. N Jb Geol Paleont Mh 9:571–576Google Scholar
  11. Reynolds J (1997) An introduction to applied and environmental geophysics. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, EnglandGoogle Scholar
  12. Rimawi O (1985) Hydrochemistry and isotope hydrology of groundwater and surface water in the north-east of Mafraq, Dhuleil, Hallabat, Azraq Basin. PhD thesis, Tech UniversityGoogle Scholar
  13. Salameh E, Bannayan H (1993) Water resources of Jordan: future and future potentials. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, AmmanGoogle Scholar
  14. Tadros Z (2000) Groundwater vulnerability in the area surrounding the solid wastes disposal sites of Ruseifa/Jordan. PhD thesis, University of JordanGoogle Scholar
  15. UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) (1997) Agenda 21-status of municipal solid waste management in JordanGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • E. Al-Tarazi
    • 1
  • A. El-Naqa
    • 2
  • M. El-Waheidi
    • 3
  • J. Abu Rajab
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesHashemite UniversityZarqaJordan
  2. 2.Department of Water and EnvironmentHashemite UniversityZarqaJordan
  3. 3.AmmanJordan

Personalised recommendations