GroundWaterQualityandHealthImpactsin

Bhalaswa,NewDelhi

Areport

By

BhalaswaLokShaktiManch,
and

HazardsCentre,NewDelhi
2012

BhalaswaGroundwaterandHealthReport
Introduction
BhalaswaLandfillsitethatislocatedinNorthEasternpartofDelhicameintooperationin1993.
Thelandfillsiteoccupies21.06acresoflandthatwasonceusedforsugarcaneplantation.About
6hectaresisdevotedtoacompostingfacility.Thelandfillisnotscientificallylinedasthepitis
onlyusedasadumpsite.Ithasonlygotalayerofmalbatoppedwithsoil,insteadofhavinga
layerofplasticoraspecialtypeofclaylayerrequiredforasecurelandfill.Atpresentitreceives
about2,200tonnesperdayofwasteoutofwhichabout700tonnesperdaygoestothecompost
plant.Thelandfillhasalreadyreachedabout22mofheight,anditwassupposedtobeclosedin
November2009.ThelandfillispubliclyownedandismanagedbytheMunicipalCorporationof
Delhi.
A very important danger to human health from landfills such as Bhalaswa is the use of
groundwaterthathasbeencontaminatedbyleachate.Contaminantsareleachedfromthesolid
wasteaswaterpercolatesthroughthelandfillandmixeswithgroundwater.
People were relocated to the Bhalaswa resettlement colony in November 2002 from eleven
jhuggijhompri clusters on the pretext of beautification of the city. The resettlement colony is
located right next to the landfill. The site is surrounded by sewage ponds and a foul smell is
perpetual.Thepeopleherehadtofightforbasicnecessitiessuchaswaterandelectricity,schools
andpublictoilets,subsidisedbasicprovisionsunderthePublicDistributionScheme(PDS)andbus
services.Theyarestillstrugglingforfacilitiessuchaswaterandsewagedisposal,transportand
health.
ThewatersupplyinBhalaswaresettlementcolonyismainlythroughtankersthatareirregular.In
some cases, the water provided by the tankers is also not clean. However, the main source of
water is hand pumps. The groundwater obtained is usually used for domestic purposes, and in
somecasesisalsousedfordrinking.

Sourcesofgroundwatercontamination

Source:http://www.groundwater.org/gi/sourcesofgwcontam.html

EnvironmentalSetting
Delhiisthenationalcapital,locatedbetweenlatitudes284230Nand2845N,andlongitudes
770730Eand771154E.ThetopographyofDelhicanbedividedintothreedifferentparts,
the plains, the Yamuna flood plain, and the ridge. Bhalaswa landfill site is located near the
BhalaswaLake,whichisafreshwateroxbowlakeonYamunafloodplain.
Climatic conditions: The climate is semiarid. The climatic conditions throughout the year have
high variations, especially between summer and winter. The average annual rainfall is
approximately670mm(27inches),mostofwhichfallsduringthemonsoons,inJulyandAugust.
Hydrogeology:Thegeologyofthestudyareaismainlyalluvium.Thereareseveralsmallpatches
ofaquifers,butscientificallyallofthemcompriseasingleaquifer.
OxbowlakeAcrescentshapedlakeformedwhenariverchangesitscourseandcutsthroughthestripoflandinthe
middleofanoxbow,abandoningitspreviouscourseandisolatingthewaterintheoxbow.

Objectives:
Theobjectivesofthisstudywere:

Toassessthepotabilityofthegroundwaterfromthepumpslocatedinareasthatsurround
theBhalaswalandfillsite,liketheBhalaswaresettlementcolony,Shraddhanandcolony,and
Mukundpur,NathupuraandNanglipuna.

To assess the health of the people of Shraddhanand Colony, Bhalaswa resettlement colony
andMukundpurgaon,andNathupura.

Understand the relationship between the quality of groundwater and the general health of
thepopulation.

Methodology:
This study has been done to analyse the effect of the Bhalaswa landfill on the health of the
population living around the landfill, especially the people living in the Bhalaswa resettlement
colony that has a population of more than 4000 households, consisting of people who were
displacedfromvariousregionsofDelhiandthenresettledtherebythegovernment.
Groundwater samples were taken from handpumps and borewells located in Shraddhanand
colony, Bhalaswa resettlement colony, Mukundpurgaon, Nathupura and Nanglipuna. Surveys
weredonetofindoutaboutthegeneralhealthofthesamplepopulation.Atotalof877people
wereinterviewed.Ofthese,154peoplewereresidentsofShraddhanandColonythatissituated
right adjacent to the Bhalaswa landfill, situated about 50100 m away from the landfill. 608
peoplewereresidentsofBhalaswaresettlementcolony,whichislocatedabout400600maway
from the landfill. The last group consisted of 115 people living in Nathupura and Mukundpur.
Nathupuraislocatedabout3.7kmsfromthelandfillinthenortheastdirection.Mukundpurgaon
islocatedabout2.5kmsfromthelandfillintheeast.SurveywasnotcarriedoutinNanglipunaas
thepopulationofthislocalityisofadifferentsocioeconomicprofile.

Profileoftherespondents
Thepopulationconsistedofpeoplemostlyintheagegroup1860(seeTable1).Thepopulation
sampleconsistedof567femalesand310males.
Table1:Distributionofrespondentsinthestudyareasbyagegroups
Agegroup(yrs)
<18
1960
>60
Noresponse

Total

M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F

No.
3
4
63
71
10
1
0
2

%
3.9
5.1
82.9
91.0
13.2
1.3
0
2.6

No.
21
15
153
379
8
16
3
13

%
11.4
3.5
82.7
89.6
4.3
3.8
1.6
3.1

Mukundpur
Nathupura
No.
%
3
6.1
1
1.5
42
85.7
62
93.9
4
8.2
3
4.5
0
0
0
0

154

100

608

100

115

Shraddhanand

Bhalaswa

100

Total
No.
27
20
258
512
22
20
3
15
877

ThemaximumnumberofkatchahouseswasobservedinShraddhandcolony(29%),andtheleast
inMukundpurgaonandNathupura(seeTable2).
Table2:Typeofhousingofrespondents
Housing
No.ofKatcha
houses
No.ofPukka
houses
Noresponse
Total

Shraddhanand

Bhalaswa

Mukundpur
Nathupura

Total

No.

No.

No.

No.

45

29.2

102

16.8

11

9.6

156

109

70.8

500

82.2

103

89.6

692

0
154

0
100

6
608

1.0
100

1
115

0.9
100

7
877

Larger families were observed in Shraddhanand colony and Bhalaswa resettlement colony and
smaller families in Mukundpurgaon and Nathupura. In Shraddhanand colony, 64% of the
respondents have 58 individuals per family (see Table 3),in Bhalaswa66% of the respondents
have 36 individuals per family and in MukundpurNathupura, 72 % of the families have 36

individuals.Onaverage,itwasobservedthatthenumberofindividualsperfamilywasbetween
38people.

No.of
family
members
2
34
56
78
8

Table3:Numberoffamilymembersinahousehold
Shraddhanan
Mukundpur
Bhalaswa
d
Nathupura
%
%
%
No.
No.
No.
4
2.6
42
6.9
6
5.2
29
18.8
157
25.8
41
35.7
62
40.3
244
40.1
41
35.7
37
24.0
92
15.1
19
16.5
21
13.6
64
10.5
6
5.2

Total
No.
52
227
347
148
91

Noresponse

0.6

1.5

1.7

12

Total

154

100

608

100

115

100

877

Sourcesandqualityofwater
Thisstudyhasbeendonetotryandrelatethequalityofdrinkingwater,andthehealthofthe
people.ThedifferentsourcesofwaterintheseareasincludepipedwatersupplyfromDelhiJal
Board,handpumpwater,borewellwater(bothDJBandprivateborewells),aswellastankers
(seeTable4).SomepeopleinBhalaswaalsofetchtheirdrinkingwaterincansfromneighbouring
areas such as Jahangirpuri and Rohini, or their place of work. However, the major source of
drinkingwaterinBhalaswaisthewatersuppliedbyDJB(88%),whichissupplementedbyhand
pumpswhenthiswaterisnotavailable.Eachhousehasahandpumpthattheyusemainlyfor
domesticchores,howeveroccasionally,theyuseitfordrinkingpurposesalso,whentheydonot
haveaccesstotheothertypesofdrinkingwater.
Table4:Sourcesofdrinkingwaterforthehousehold

Mukundpur
Shraddhanand
Bhalaswa
Sourcesof
Nathupura

drinkingwater
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
Handpump
55
35.7
505
83.1
60
52.2
Borewell(DJB)
118
76.6
540
88.8
27
23.5
Tanker
Pipedwater
supply(DJB)

Total
No.
620
685

39

25.3

106

17.4

25

21.7

170

72

46.8

61

10.0

76

66.1

209

During the survey, people were asked about the visible characteristics of the water that they
receive. A large number of people reported problems such as not obtaining clear water, but
gettingcolouredwaterhavingsediments.Forexample,82%peopleinShraddhanandcolony,89%
in Bhalaswa and 68% in Mukundpur and Nathupura said they received yellow coloured water.
The people reported that on letting the water stand for some time, a layer of sediments is
observedatthebottom.Insomeofthehandpumpsnearthelandfill,thewaterthatcomesout
sometimes is brownishblackish in colour. Additionally, according to data from the Central
Groundwater Board and the Central Pollution Control Board, groundwater in Bhalaswa is fresh
water up to 30m60m depth. However, 94% of the respondents said that the drinking water is
salty in taste. Even in Shraddhanand colony, 77% of the respondents and in Munkundpur
Nathupura87%oftherespondentssaidthatthedrinkingwaterissaline.

Table5:Qualityofdrinkingwater(asperceivedbyrespondent)
Mukundpur
Shraddhanand Bhalaswa
Nathupura
Waterquality
(%)
(%)
(%)
Yellow
56.6
16.4
47.0
Red
2.0
2.2
9.6
Black
0
0
0
Colour
Mixed
25.7
73.6
20.9
Clear
13.2
7.6
22.6
Taste
Salty
75.0
94.2
87
Odour
Bad
0
2.8
0
Sand/mud
Sediments
35.6
1.7
13.9
present


The photographs show the colour of
water from a hand pump in
Shraddhanand colony

Groundwatertesting
Inaddition,groundwatersamplesweretakeninNovember2010byrandomsamplingfromhand
pumpsandborewellslocatednearthelandfillsite,andthequalityofgroundwaterwasanalysed
by various tests. The sites were chosen in a radial direction in the north and east sides and at
increasingdistancesfromthelandfill.Onthewesternandsouthernsides,thelandfillisbordered
byadrain.
Various parameters of the samples such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen
demand(COD),heavymetalssuchaslead,zinc,chromiumandpresenceoffaecalcoliformswere
tested.

pHisameasureoftheacidityoralkalinityofawatersample,anditwasmeasuredusingapH
meter.

TDS comprises inorganic salts (principally calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium,

bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates) and small amounts of organic matter that are
dissolved in water. TDS in drinkingwater originate from natural sources, sewage, urban
runoffandindustrialwastewater.TomeasureTDS,electricalconductivity(EC)wasmeasured
usinganECmeter,andthatvaluewasconvertedintoaTDSvalue.

Faecalcoliformsaretestedtoseeifthewaterhasbeenfaecallycontaminated.Ifthewater
has been faecally contaminated, there is a possibility that there are also pathogens in the
watersample.FaecalcontaminationwastestedbythePresenceAbsencetest.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is used to indirectly measure the amount of organic
compoundsinwater.Itwastestedbytheclosedreflux,titrimetricmethod(APHA).

Heavymetalsweremeasuredbyatomicabsorptionspectrophotometry(AAS).

Samplingsites:

WS1:Thesamplewascollectedfromahandpumpofdepth27.4minahouseinShradhanand
colony.Itwaslocated230mfromthelandfill.Thewaterisusedforcookingandotherdomestic
choresbutnotfordrinking.
WS 2: The sample was collected from a hand pump of depth of 9.1 m from a house in
Shradhanandcolony.Thewaterisnotusedotherthanforflushingthelatrineoccasionally.Itwas
blackcolouredwaterwithabadodour.
WS3:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumplocatedintheBhalaswaresettlementcolony.
Thedepthofthehandpumpis6.1m.Thewaterobtainedfromitishardandisusedforcooking
andotherdomesticchoresbutnotfordrinking.
WS 4: The sample was collected from hand pump of depth 25.9 m located in the Bhalaswa
resettlementcolony.Thewaterissometimesusedfordrinking.
WS 5: The sample was collected from a hand pump of depth 7.6 m located in a house in
Shradhanandcolony.
WS6:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumplocatedintheBhalaswaresettlementcolony.
Thedepthofthehandpumpis6.1m.Thewaterisusedforcookingandotherdomesticchores
butnotfordrinking.
WS7:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumplocatedintheBhalaswaresettlementcolony.
Thedepthofthehandpumpis6.1m.Thewaterisveryhardandisnotusedfordrinking.When
thewateriskeptstandingforawhile,itbecomesyellowincolourandsedimentsareobservedat
thebottom.

WS8:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumpinahouseinMukundpurgaon.Thedepthof
the pump is 9.1 m. The water is very hard and is used for domestic chores but is not used for
drinkingandbathing.
WS9:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumpinMukundpurgaon,marketarea.Thedepth
ofthepumpis6.1m.Thewaterobtainedfromitisveryhardandisnotusedfordrinking.
WS10:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumplocatedinahouseinNanglipuna.Thedepth
ofthehandpumpis15.2m.Itistreatedandusedforallpurposes.
WS11:ThesamplewascollectedfromahandpumplocatedinahouseinNanglipuna.Thedepth
ofthehandpumpis9.1m,anditprovidesverycleanwateraccordingtotheuser.
WS 12: The sample was collected from a hand pump from a crop field in Nathupura located
besides the police station. The depth of the hand pump is 7.6 m, and the water is used for all
purposes.
WS13:ThesamplewascollectedfromaborewellfromahouseinShastriPark,Nathupura.The
depthoftheborewellis6.1mandthewaterisusedfordomesticpurposes.
WS 14: The sample was from piped drinking water supply that comes from a borewell in
Nanglipuna and was collected from a house in Shradhanand colony. It is used for drinking and
otherhouseholdchores.
WS15:ThesamplewascollectedfromtheBhalaswaLake.

Sitelocation

Figure1:Locationofsamplingsites

Results

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Distance+
(m)
230
640
640
650
750
810
840
2440
2520
3580
3650
3730
3740

14

15

960

Sample

Depth
(m)
27.4
9.1
6.1
25.9
7.6
6.1
6.1
9.1
6.1
15.2
9.1
7.6
6.1
Tap
water
0.0

Zn

Pb

Cd

pH

COD

EC(s)

TDS**

ND
0.12
0.473
0.001
0.02
0.516
ND
ND
0.012
ND
ND
ND
0.036

0.027
ND
0.018
0.044
0.04
0.031
0.013
0.053
ND
ND
0.027
0.009
0.018

ND++
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND

6.5
8
6.5
7
7
8
7.5
8
8
7.5
7.5
8
7.5

37.6
92.4
22.56
45.12
22.56
75.2
82.72
82.72
90.24
3
52.64
90.24
75.2

8352
5616
6128
4192
3390
3706
8864
2154
2894
2132
2740
2150
1198

5846
3931
4290
2934
2373
2594
6205
1508
2026
1492
1918
1505
839

Faecal
coliform
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Negative
Positive
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Positive
Negative
Negative

0.012

0.009

ND

45.12

1338

937

Negative

ND

0.018

ND

7.52

2532

1772

Positive

Distancefromthelandfill

Zn,Pb,Cd,CODandTDSinppm

**

estimatedTDS=EC*0.7(11)

++Notdetected

TotalDissolvedSolids(TDS)
TDSisonlyanaestheticandtechnicalfactor;howeverahighconcentrationofTDSisanindicator
thatharmfulcontaminants,suchasiron,manganese,sulphate,bromideandarsenic,canalsobe
presentinthewater.Thisisespeciallytruewhentheexcessivedissolvedsolidsareaddedtothe
water as human pollution, through runoff and wastewater discharges. According to the BIS
standards(1991),thedesirablelimitfordrinkingwateris500ppm,andthemaximumpermissible
limit is 2000 ppm. Water containing TDS more than 500 mg/L causes gastrointestinal irritation.
YounglandfillsarecharacterizedbyleachateofhighTDS.

TDS

Concentration(TDS)on
theYaxisisdividedby100

TDS(ppm)

80.00

6205

60.00

5846
4290

40.00

3931
2934
2373

20.00

2594

1918
2026
1508

1772

1505

1492
937

839

0.00
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Depth(m)

Distance(m)
20.00

40.00

TDS(/100)

Depth(m)

TDSConcentrationinGroundwateraroundBhalaswaLandfill
It can be seen from the graph that the concentration of TDS in the groundwater samples
decreases with increasing distance from the landfill. Of the groundwater samples taken, all of
them exceeded the desirable TDS limit of 500 ppm, and seven of the samples exceeded the
permissiblelimitof2000ppm.ItwasobservedthatthesampleslocatedinShraddhanandcolony
andBhalaswaresettlementcolonyhadhighTDS,rangingfrom2373ppmto5846ppm.Sampling
site1wasclosesttothelandfillandhadaveryhighTDS(5846ppm).Onaverage,thesamples
that were located less than 1km from the landfill had dangerous levels of TDS, whereas those
locatedbeyond1kmwerecomparativelysafer.
ThehighestTDSwasfoundatthesamplingsite6(6205ppm).Thiscouldbebecausethissitewas
locatednexttoadrainthatwasanadditionalsourceofcontamination.Additionallythedepthof
thewatersamplewasnotverydeep(6.1m);hencelittlepurificationcouldhaveoccurreddueto
filtrationbysoil.

SampleslocatedinMukundpurNathupurahadlowerTDS,rangingfrom836ppmto2026ppm.
However,sample9(2026ppm)andsample10(1918ppm)werelocatedneardrainsandthere
couldhavebeencontaminationfromit.

ChemicalOxygenDemand(COD)

COD
100
92.4
82.72

COD(ppm)

80

90.24

90.24
82.72

75.2

75.2

60
52.64
45.12

45.12

40

37.6

22.56

20

22.56
7.52

Depth(m)

0
20

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Distance(m)

40
COD(ppm)

Depth(m)

CODConcentrationinGroundwateraroundBhalaswaLandfill
CODisaparameterthatisusuallyassociatedwithsewage,andnotdrinkingwater,orwaterthat
is used for domestic purposes. Thus, no guidelines have been issued by the Bureau of Indian
Standard (BIS). The WHO guideline for COD in drinking water is 10 mg/L. Only two samples,
Sample10andBhalaswalakewaterhavevalueslessthanthestandard.

HeavyMetals
Lead
TheWHOguidelineforleadindrinkingwateris0.01mg/L(ppm).Ofthegroundwatersamples
tested, nine of the samples tested had lead concentration greater than the WHO guidelines.
AccordingtotheBIS,themaximumpermissiblelimitforleadis0.05mg/L.Onlysample8hadlead
concentration greater than the permissible level according to BIS standard. Of the samples
tested,thehighestconcentrationofleadwasfoundinsample8(0.053ppm).
Of the samples tested, the samples from Shraddhanand and Bhalaswa had greater lead
concentrations,rangingfrom0to0.044ppm.Thesampleslocatedfartherfromthelandfillhad
lower concentration of lead. Thus, the landfill could be the source of contamination of
groundwaterbylead.

Lead

Leadconc(ppm)

60

0.053

50
0.044

40

0.040

30

0.027

20

0.018

10
Depth(m)

Concentration(lead)onthe
Yaxisismultipliedby1000

0.031

0.027

0.018
0.013

0.018
0.009

0
10

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Distance(m)

20
30
Pb(*1000)

Depth(m)

LeadConcentrationinGroundwateraroundBhalaswaLandfill
Possible sources of lead in the landfill could be lead batteries, ewaste, construction waste
(having leadbased paint) and chemicals for photograph processing. Leaching of lead from
landfillshasbeenstudiedinothercasesaswell.

Zinc

Zinc
60
0.516

50
Znconc(ppm)

Concentration (zinc) on
Y-axis is multiplied by 100

0.473

40
30
20
0.12

10

0.02

Depth(m)

0.012

0
10

0.036

0.012

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Distance(m)

20
30
Zn(*100)

Depth(m)

ZincConcentrationinGroundwateraroundBhalaswaLandfill

Thepermissiblelevelofzincindrinkingwateris15mg/L.Theconcentrationofzincfoundinthe
samples tested rangedfrom below detection limit to 0.516 ppm. Thus all the samples had zinc
levelsbelowthepermissiblelimit.Insevensamples,theyexceededthelevelsnormallyfoundin
groundwater(about0.01ppm).

Cadmium
Theconcentrationofcadmiuminallthesampleswasbelowdetectionlevel.

Faecalcoliform
Faecal coliforms are tested to see if the water has been faecally contaminated. Faecal
contaminationwastestedbythePresenceAbsencetest.Ofthe15watersamplestested,seven
gavepositiveresult,indicatingthattheyareunfitfordrinking.

OccurrenceoffaecalcoliformsingroundwateraroundBhalaswalandfill

OfthesampleslocatedinShraddhanandcolony,twoofthethreesamplesshowedpresenceof
faecal coliforms. Of the samples located in Bhalaswa resettlement colony, three of the four
samples showed presence of faecal coliforms. In summation, of the handpumps and borewels
locatedlessthan1kmfromthelandfill,5ofthe7groundwatersamplestestedpositiveforfaecal
coliforms, whereas of those located greater than 1km from the landfill, only 1 of the 6 tested
positive.Thiscouldindicatethatthegroundwaterisbeingfaecallycontaminatedbythelandfill.
In other studies also, landfills have been observed to be the source of faecal contamination.
However,faecalcontaminationcouldalsooccurduetothepoorsanitaryconditionsintheregion.
Samplingsite11locatedinNanglipunawaslocatednexttoadrain.Itispossiblethatthewater
hadbeencontaminatedbythedrain.

OccurrenceoffaecalcoliformsingroundwateraroundBhalaswalandfill

Sample
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Faecal
coliform
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Negative
Positive
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Positive
Negative
Negative
Negative

Distance
(m)
230
640
640
650
750
810
840
2440
2520
3580
3650
3730
3740
3656

15

Positive

960

Depth

Source

27.4
9.1
6.1
25.9
7.6
6.1
6.1
9.1
6.1
15.2
9.1
7.6
6.1

Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Handpump
Borewell
Borewell
Surface
water

CumulativeGradesofthequalityofwatersamples

Cumulativegradeswereassignedtothedifferentwatersamplesaccordingtotheoverallwater
qualityasdemonstratedbythevaluesobtainedontestingofsomewaterqualityparameters.For
this,thesampleswererankedfrom115(total15samplesweretested),andthentheseranksfor
the different parameters were totalled, to arrive at the cumulative grade of the sample. The
samplewiththeleastcumulativegradeisthebestqualitywater,andasisvisibleforthefigure,
water samples taken from sources near the landfill were the worst with respect to their
cumulative grades. Thus the worst 6 water samples were from Shraddhanand colony and
Bhalaswa resettlement colony. As the distance from the landfill increased, the quality of the
waterisobservedtobebetter.


Cumulativegradesofwatersamples

Sample
1
2
3*
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Distance
(m)
230
640
640
650
750
810
840
2440
2520
3580
3650
3730
3740
3656
960

Depth
(m)
27.4
9.1
6.1
25.9
7.6
6.1
6.1
9.1
6.1
15.2
9.1
7.6
6.1

0.0

TDS

COD

Pb

Zn

14
12
13
11
9
10
15
5
8
3
7
4
1
2
6

5
15
3
6
4
9
11
12
13
1
8
14
10
7
2

10
1
7
14
13
12
6
15
1
1
11
4
8
4
9

1
13
14
8
11
15
1
1
9
1
1
1
12
10
1

Faecal
Cumulative
Rank
coliform**
grade
7
37
10
7
48
14
7
44
12
7
46
13
0
37
11
7
53
15
0
33
7
0
33
8
0
31
5
0
6
1
7
34
9
0
23
2
0
31
6
0
23
3
7
25
4

* Tap water sample from a house in Shraddhanand Colony. Source of piped water is from
Nanglipuna
**Sampleswithpositivefaecalcoliformhavebeengiven7points,andnegativefaecalcoliform0
points

Arelationshipbetweenthedepthofthehandpumpandborewellwiththequalityofthewater
can also be observed. The depth of the handpumps sampled falls in 3 ranges 510m, 1020m,
and greater than 20 m. The sample that was of the best quality (according to the cumulative
gradesvalue)fellin1015mrangedepth.Additionally,thehandpumpsampletakenclosesttothe
landfill (230 m) was the deepest handpump; fell in the most dangerous zone of less than 1km
distancefromthelandfill.However,ofthe7samplestakeninthisregion,itwasobservedtobe
secondinqualityonlytothe7thsample,indicatingthatsomeamountoffiltrationoccurredwith
increasingdepthofthehandpump.
Healthproblems
The respondents also suffered from some health problems that recurred, or they had to
continuously take medications to keep the illness at bay. Of these illnesses, gastrointestinal
problems,musculoskeletalpain,skinandeyeirritation,andrespiratoryproblemswerefacedby
alargenumberofrespondents.
Table6:Healthproblemsofrespondents(self)
Healthproblems

Shraddhanand
(%)

Bhalaswa(%)

Mukundpur
Nathupura(%)

GIT

78

79

71

Musculoskeletal
Respiratory
Skin
Eye
Nerve
Cardiovascular
Infections
Others

38
26
24
57
10
12
1
34

68
9
26
41
6
3
5
10

41
13
30
44
6
10
2
15

Gastrointestinaldiseases
Averylargenumberofpeoplehaverecurringgastrointestinediseases.InShraddhanandcolony
78% (see Table 6), Bhalaswa resettlement colony 79% and in Mukundpur and Nathupura, 71%
have recurrent gastrointestinal problems. Of these people, many complained of recurring
diseaseslikediarrhoea,andalsoconstantlysufferfromstomachache,vomiting,etc.21.1%ofthe
womenand31.9%ofthemenofthesamplepopulationinBhalaswaresettlementcolonysuffer
from diarrhoea and vomiting. This could indicate occurrence of faecal contamination of the
drinkingwater.Duringanalysisofwaterfromhandpumps,ofthefourhandpumpstested,three
werefoundtogivefaecallycontaminatedwater.

NoneofthepeoplesurveyedinNathupuraandMukundpuracomplainedofrecurrentdiarrhoea
orvomiting.Intheseareas,noneofthewatersampleswerefoundtobefaecallycontaminated.
However,alargenumberofpeople(62.6%)sufferedfromproblemslikegasandstomachache.
Table7:Gastrointestinalproblemsoftherespondents(self)
Shraddhanand

Bhalaswa

MukundpurNathupura

GIT

Total
M

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

Diarrhoea&
Vomiting

39

21.1

135

31.9

174

Gas/Acidity

43

56.6

38

48.7

131

70.8

335

79.2

28

57.1

44

66.7

614

Genericgastric
trouble

16

21.1

27

34.6

0.5

6.1

10.6

55

Totalnumberof
people

57

75.0

63

80.7

133

71.9

347

82.0

31

63.3

51

77.3

682

GastricproblemsinBhalaswaresettlementcolony
ItisobservedthatmostofthepeoplesurveyedinblocksC6(71.4%),B4(64.4%)andC2(63.9%)
complained of recurring diarrhoea and vomiting (table 8). On the other hand, lower levels of
occurrenceofdiarrhoeaandvomitingwereobservedinA3,B6,B7andC5blocks.
Table 8: Bhalaswa resettlement colony (GIT problems)
Bhalaswa
No.of
Vomiting/
resettlement people
Diarrhoea
colonyBlock surveyed
A2
99
41
A3
51
3
B4
59
38
B7
106
9
C2
61
39
C5
47
4
C6
14
10
D1
112
15
B6
53
2
A5
6
1

Stomach
ache

41.4
5.9
64.4
8.5
63.9
8.5
71.4
13.4
3.8
16.7

96
36
56
88
60
33
13
59
27
6

97.0
70.6
94.9
83.0
98.4
70.2
92.9
52.7
50.9
100.0

Skin problems
Thepercentageofpeoplehavingskinproblemswasalsofoundtobesignificant.13.2%menand
16.7% men in Shraddhanand colony (see Table 9), 20% men and 18.2% women in Bhalaswa
resettlementcolonyand18.4%menand27.3%womeninMukundpurNathupuracomplainedof
itching.Itchingandskinrashcanbecausedduetocontactwithpollutedwater.Landfillleachate
canhavevolatileorganicchemicalssuchasbenzene,chloroform,ethylbenzene,tolueneetcthat
cancauseeyeandskinirritation.Itchingcanalsobecausedduetoexposuretomanygaseslike
chloroform,carbonylsulphideetcthatareproducedinlandfills,andalsopresenceofpollutants
in the water. Other problems that were observed were pigmentation, dry skin, ringworm
infection,skinallergyandrash.
Table9:Skinproblemsofrespondents(self)
Shraddhanand
Skin

Bhalaswaresettlementcolony

MukundpurNathupura

Total

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

Allergy/Itching

14

13.2

15

16.7

37

20.0

80

18.9

18.4

24

27.3

179

Pigmentation

1.3

3.2

16

3.8

1.5

24

Dryand
crackingskin

1.7

Burning
sensation

1.3

0.5

Ringworm

1.1

1.4

Acne/boils

1.3

0.5

2.1

11

Total

14

18.4

16

20.5

47

25.4

110

26.0

18.4

25

37.9

221

Eye problems
Eye problems were also observed in high percentages. Bathing and other contact of eyes with
contaminatedwatercanleadtoeyeproblemssuchaspinkeyesetc.Presenceofvolatileorganic
chemicals such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, etc. can cause eye
irritation. Additionally, gases that are released from landfills such as ammonia, acrylonitrile,
carbonylsulphide,methylethylketoneetcallhavenegativeimpactsoneyes,causingproblems
suchasburningsensation,wateringandeyeirritation.

InShraddhanandcolony,thatislocatednearesttothelandfill,32.9%menand32.1%womenhad
persistent watering in their eyes (see Table 10). 22.2% men and 19.4% women in Bhalaswa
resettlementcolonyand28.6%menand13.6%womeninMukundpurNathupurahadpersistent
burningsensationintheireyes.Onerespondentsaidthatvapoursrisefromthestagnantwater
lyingaroundthelandfills,whichcausespersistentwateringfromtheeyes.Thiswaterissotoxic
that even mosquitoes do not come here. Other problems that were observed are itching,
rednessoftheeyes,allergies,eyeinfections,andalsoproblemssuchasweakeyesightandpainin
theeyes.
Table10:Eyeproblemsofrespondents
Shraddhanand

BhalaswaResettlementColony

MukundpurNathupura

Eye
M

Total

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

Burning
sensation/
itching
Watering

6.6

7.7

41

22.2

82

19.4

14

28.6

13.6

25

32.9

25

32.1

2.7

10

2.4

8.2

6.1

73

Redness

2.2

1.7

1.5

12

Painineye

2.6

5.1

29

15.7

66

15.6

2.0

7.6

107

Weak
eyesight/
cataract

12

15.8

10.3

4.9

18

4.3

10.2

12

18.2

64

Total
numberof
people

44

57.9

43

55.1

82

44.3

168

39.7

24

49.0

31

47.0

392

Respiratoryproblems
TheoccurrenceofrespiratoryproblemsamongthepopulationsinShraddhanandcolony,Bhalaswa
resettlement colony and MukundpurNathupura was surveyed. A large number of people in
Shraddhanandcolony(27.6%menand19.2%women)(seeTable11)wereobservedtosufferfrom
breathlessness. Comparatively fewer people in Bhalaswa resettlement colony and Mukundpur
Nathupurasufferfromproblemslikebreathlessness.Landfillsareasourceofmanygasessuchas
benzene, ethylbenzene, tetrachloroethylene, particulate matter, mercury, sulphur dioxide, etc.,
which have an impact on the respiratory system. Additionally, peoplealso said that earlier there
usedtobefrequentfiresinthelandfill,leadingtogreaterimpactontherespiratorysystem.

157

Table11:Respiratoryproblemsofrespondents
BhalaswaResettlement
Colony

Shraddhanand
Respiratory
problems

MukundpurNathupura

Total

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

Breathlessness

21

27.6

15

19.2

11

5.9

27

6.4

8.2

10.6

85

Pain/difficulty
inbreathing

2.2

2.1

13

Cough

2.6

2.6

0.5

0.7

2.0

4.5

12

Badthroat

0.5

12

2.8

13

Totalnumber
ofpeople

23

30.3

17

21.8

15

8.1

34

8.04

10.2

10

15.2

104

Musculoskeletalproblems
Manypeoplereportedmusculoskeletalproblems,especiallypaininkneesandjoints,aswellas
general body ache. This could be because the occupations of the people are mostly labour
intensive.Itcouldalsopossiblybeduetocontaminationofthegroundwaterbyfluorides.
Table11:Musculoskeletalproblemsofrespondents

BhalaswaResettlement
Shraddhanand
MukundpurNathupura

Musculo
skeletalpain

Colony

No.

No.

No.

Jointpain

6.6

10.3

55

Backache

3.9

9.0

Bodypain

22

28.9

23

29.5

Totalnumber
ofpeople

28

36.8

39

No.

Total

No.

No.

29.7

152 35.9

14.3

14

21.2

241

13

7.0

36

8.5

7.6

65

68

36.8

168 39.7

11

22.4

19

28.8

311

50.0 116

62.7

300 70.9

18

36.7

50

75.8

551

Otherillnesses
28.9% men and 30.8% women Shraddhanand colony also suffered from headaches. Gases that
are released from landfills such as carbon monoxide, chloroform, tetrachloroethylene,etc. also
causeneurologicaleffects,includingheadaches,dizziness,fatigue.Shraddhanandcolonythatis
located nearest to the landfill had the highest percentage of people having headaches. In
Bhalaswa,20.8%ofthepeoplecomplainedofheadaches.

Conclusion
The groundwater from the hand pumps located in the vicinity of the landfill show increased
concentrations of contaminants. The water samples had high levels of TDS, COD as well as
specificcontaminantssuchaslead,zinc.Someofthewatersampleswerefaecallycontaminated.
Thisindicatesthatthereisapossibilityofcontaminationoccurringduetothelandfill.
Inthehandpumpsamplesintheresettlementcolony,eachofthefoursampleshadhigherTDS
than the maximum permissible limit (BIS) and three of the four samples were faecally
contaminated. One of the samples had TDS value 6205 ppm, three times higher than the
maximumpermissiblelimitof2000ppm(BIS).EachofthesampleshadCOD,twoofthemhaving
a COD of 82.72 and 75.2 ppm. Thus the groundwater available to the residents of the
resettlementcolonywasunfitforhumanconsumption.However,duetothelackofpipedwater
supplyorregulartankerwatersupply,theresidentsareforcedtousethisimpurewater.
The residents suffer from a number of illnesses, especially gastrointestinal diseases, musculo
skeletalpain,skinandeyeirritation,andrespiratoryproblems.Forexample,79%ofthesample
population of Bhalaswa resettlement colony suffer from different types of stomach problems,
including 31.9% females and 21.1% males who complained of diarrhoea and vomiting. Some
blocks such as C6, B4 and C32, had especially greater problems, and the groundwater in the
regionalsowasnotgood.Thiscouldindicatethatthegroundwaterintheareaaroundthelandfill
is being contaminated due to leachate from the landfill, and additionally as there is no regular
provisionofcleandrinkingwaterinthecolony,thepeoplehavetosuffer.Regularcontactwith
the polluted groundwater for use in domestic chores such as bathing, washing utensils and
clothes has also lead to a large number of people suffering from skin irritation and itching and
eye irritation. Landfill leachate has presence of contaminants such as benzene, toluene,
ethylbezenethatcauseproblemssuchaseyeandskinirritation.Inaddition,thelocationofthe
colony being so near the landfill also exposes the population to harmful landfill gases such as
benzene, ethylbenzene, acrylonitrile, carbon disulphide, etc., which have impacts on the
respiratorysystemandeyes.
This study is indicative, and there is a need to carry out a more detailed study, with a larger
number of samples being taken. Steps have to be taken to ensure a clean water supply to the
residents, and also to ensure that the landfill does not lead to further contamination of the
groundwater.Thelandfillisnearingitsclosuredate,anditshouldbecappedproperly.

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Forfurtherdetails,pleasecontact:

BhalswaLokShaktiManch
B7/115,BhalswaPunerwasColony,
Delhi110042
PUSHPA8800631852
Email:pushpa.rti@gmail.com
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HazardsCentre
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Munirka,NewDelhi110067
Ph01126187806/26714244
hazardscentre@gmail.com
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