ABSTRACT

The impact of solid waste dumps on soil and surface water in Rumukurushi. Port Harcourt. Nigeria was evaluated in the rainy and dry seasons from June. 2012-March. 2013. The various types of waste generated were identified. The physico-chemical properties of soils at the point(Om) and non-point sources (200m and 400m) al the Rumuelini and Tank dump sites and of w ater of Mmirichinda Stream at the point source (0m) and non-point sources (200m and 400m away) were also evaluated. Well structured questionnaires and focus group discussion (FGD) were used to studs the factors militating against proper waste disposal and management in the area. The factors were, inter alia, the use of children for waste disposal, non-provision of adequate waste disposal tanks by the Rivers State Government, inadequate infrastructure, poor funding of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Agencs (RSEPA). understaffing and nonregular payment of the staff and workers of RSEPA. A 14x2x10 split split plot experiment with three replications was used to determine the quantities of 14 waste types in two dumpsites namely: Rumuelini and Tank at 10 study months (June. 2012- March. 2013). Vegetable wastes, followed by food wastes, were the highest (p<0.05) quantities of wastes. The statistically similar quantities of waste of textiles, leather. paper, tin cans, rubber, aluminum, plastics and metals at both dump sites had the least (p<0.05) quantities of wastes. Tank dump site had significant!} higher quantities of wastes than Rumuelini dump site. The rainy season months of June. Jul). August. September, and October 2012 had higher (p<0.05) quantities of wastes than the dry season months of November.and December. 2012 and January. Februars and March. 2013. The point source (0m) at Rumuelini and Tank dump sites had significantly higher silt content than the other two non-point sources (200m and 400m aw as from the dump sites). The 400m non-point source of each of the two dump sites had significantly higher sand content than the point source (Om) and the 200m non point source. The clay contents of the point source and non-point sources in the Rumuelini and Tank dump sites were not significantly different. The pH . temperature and colour contents of the Mmirichindai stream water at the point source (0m) and non-point sources (200m and 400m) at the Rumuelini dump site were not significant!} different from each other. The similar (p<0.05) turbidity values of the stream water at the 200m and 400m non-point sources at the Rumuelini dump sites were significantly higher than the turbidity values at the point source (0m). The 200m non-point source and the 0m point source had significant!} the highest and least (p<0.05) values of iota! suspended solids (TSS) respectively. The 400m non-point source and the 0m point source had respectively the highest and least (p<0.05) total dissolved solids (TDS) in the stream water at the Rumuelini dump sites. The statistical!} similar dissolved oxygen (DO) contents of the Mmirichindai stream water at the 400m and 200m non-point sources at the Rumuelini dumpsite were significant!} higher than the DO al the 0m point source. On the basis of the results of this stud}’, it is recommended, inter alia. that there should be periodic seminars/workshops in Rumukurushi and other parts of Port Harcourt to sensitize the residents on sustainable waste disposal and management techniques