Sanitary and Social Effects of Dear El Balah Landfill (Gaza Strip-Palestine)

Abstract

This research aims to study sanitary and social effect of Dear El Balah Landfill which designed by a linear system for protection groundwater from pollution. Questionnaire was prepared for farmers and people living near landfill, water samples were collected from private wells surrounding landfill and analyzed (private wells). Chemical parameters of Leachate such as ammonium NH4, BOD, COD indicates reducing of organic wastes or presence of toxic materials that inhibit activity of microorganisms. Therefore landfill is in a final age and must be closed. On other side these of landfill parameters may indicate that using the second phase after first phase is filled. Chloride and electrical conductivity (EC) at sampling wells are high .On 2003 and 2005 the data showed the same elevation values of Cl and EC. On other side values of EC and Cl on 2008 and 2009 at all wells in middle area of Gaza Strip were also high. We are not sure that elevation is due to landfill, because no historical data to compare. Nitrate concentration are relatively acceptable to WHO standards except for well (7) is high due to agriculture practical in Dear Al Balah area. It has been noticed that 25% of olive farms surrounding the study area showed fungal spots on leaves, fruits and/or all the plant parts. The study indicated that milk production and poultry production were reduced by 12% as consequences of the landfill in the study area. The results showed that farmers bothering of presence of landfill especially the effect of insects and rodents on their agriculture crops. Also unpleasant smell especially that produced from fires that took place inside landfill, in addition floods of Leachate at their lands.