1.2 Statement of the problem
Several of the environmental problems in the world today are caused by municipal solid waste due to its improper management (Huang et al., 1992). Solid wastes can be classified as biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biodegradability of solid waste is an important factor in handling. Food wastes and wastes of vegetable origin are readily biodegradable, but other organic wastes such as paper and wood are not readily biodegradable. Solid wastes can also be classified as combustible and non-combustible (Olurunfemi & Odita 1998).
The dumpsites examined shows a flow of water through the area which linked to another area. The different wastes types at the dumpsites possess different physical and chemical properties. The leachate produced from the decomposed wastes materials each times it rains may drain into the nearby surface stream, may leach into the sub-surface soil and then into the groundwater aquifers. During this process, the boreholes, stream water and soil samples around the dumpsite may become contaminated. This may be very possible in the study area because the soil texture show that soil around the dumpsite and even outside the dumpsite show very high percentage coarse sand which is highly conducive to leachate transport. From this, it is necessary to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of leachate from the dumpsite which are known to impact human health.
The Poor structure of the cities especially the traditional inner core with their narrow streets and roads may not be motorable as to permit refuse collection truck easy entry and exit. Also the low environmental awareness in Nigeria has a spillover effect on how we manage our solid waste. The general public sees refuse collection and disposal as belonging to government. Consequently, the public treats any call for sustainable solid waste management with disdain if not total apathy. Evidence abounds to show that a lot of ill-formed public flagrantly throw their refuse anywhere and anyhow in the urban centres (Ajadile 2007). Solution to the problems (1) Government should provide more tap water to those areas to reduce contamination (2) Government should provide proper environmental awareness on how to dispose refuse (3) Government should provide good personnel that will effectively plan, execute and monitor dumping of refuse materials in those area.
1.3 Justification
In view of the fact that various studies and research has been made on leachate in different countries which gives an insight awareness of the effect of the presence of heavy metals, high pH, temperature, turbidity and biomarker toxicity parameter. Leachate contains some microorganisms and chemical substances that can harm the body related to public health. Consequently the result from one area may not be applicable in another and not enough to justify the effect in other areas. It is therefore important to study biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of the areas because such research have not been carried out in the area before so as to determine the variation to other areas.
1.4 Research Aim and Objectives
Aim:
• To characterize physico-chemical component on dump leachate sample in Ilorin metropolis.
Objectives:
• To assess the pH, temperature and turbidity properties of leachate in Ilorin.
• To evaluate the presence of heavy metals on leachate samples in Ilorin metropolis.
• To compare the level of biochemical and chemical oxygen demand on leachate samples in Ilorin.
1.5 Research hypothesis
• There is no significant variation in all the samples in study area of collection.
• There is no significant variation in all heavy metals from the study area .
• There is no significant value in biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand content from the study area.
