Deterioration of groundwater quality in the vicinity of an active open-tipping site in West Malaysia

There is an urgent need for characterization of leachate arising from waste disposal
to ensure a corresponding effective leachate management policy. Field and laboratory
studies have been carried out to investigate the impact of municipal landfill leachate on the
underlying groundwater at a site in West Malaysia. The solid waste was disposed of directly
onto an unprotected natural soil formation. This situation was made worse by the shallow
water table.