The Development and Application of a Pollution Index as an Aid to Management of Waste Disposal Sites

a Pollution Index as an Aid to Management of Waste Disposal Sites A. C. SMrrH .qNo D. R. Gsr GMC County Laboratory,856, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester A computer orientated method for classifying the results of alalysis of water samples taken during the long-term monitoring of groundwater beneath a waste-disposal site has been developed. Analysis of the results of samples taken from piezometers during a preliminary site investigation provided sufficient information to identify eight parameters (total dissolved solids, conductivity, ammoniacal nitrogen, bicarbonate, chlo de, calcium, sodium, potassium) by which groundwater and polluted groundwater could clearly be distinguished. These parameters and three other. more conventional. indicators of leachate pollution (chemicai oxygen demand, nitrate and iron) were then combined to give a single value pollution index for any given water sample from the site. As the monitoring programme progressed the original data base for the factors was expanded to include subsequent results of analyses of groundwaters which resulted in stabilization of the data base and increased confidence in the use of the index. The index has been used to iden