Contribution of several physico-chemical tracers to the study of groundwater contamination by landfill leachates

This work deals with the estimation of the water content of several physico-chemical parameters in a landfill (Etueffont, Belfort, France), and their impact on the quality of the underground water. Samples were collected monthly from May 1998 to May 1999 with a vertical bottle, from the output of the landfill and from eight wells. The results showed high concentrations of most parameters in the well PZ30 and PZ3, situated near the landfill. The spatio-temporal distribution of the physico-chemical parameters (T, pH, EC, Eh, O-2, Cl-, NO3-, SO4-, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and total iron) in the 8 wells was governed by geological, hydrogeogical, physical and chemical, and climatic factors. In addition, the concentrations of contaminants decreased in the last well (1 km from the landfill), indicating a purification and dilution effect. Nevertheless, we suspect short-term degradation of the groundwater in the Etueffont site.