Assessment of groundwater quality near a dumpsite and evaluation of human health risk in Souteast Maseru, Lesotho
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SpringerNature
Abstract
Inadequate management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a global environmental
concern for human health and ecosystems. In Lesotho, open dumping is the oldest
method of solid waste disposal that threatens nearby water bodies, especially
groundwater. There is under-presentation of monitoring data from the Ts’osane
dumpsite, and this study intended to address the gap. The study investigated
groundwater quality and level of non-carcinogenic health hazard for residents who
consume the groundwater. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorides (Cl), copper
(Cu), electrical conductivity (EC), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and pH) were analysed from
30 samples for five private boreholes within the 900 m radius from the dumpsite,
following the American Public Health Association (APHA) standard methods.
Data analysis entailed descriptive analysis, and correlation coefficient established
relationships amongst the parameters. Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index
(HI) were used to assess communities’ risk. The results were as follows: Cl (191–
288.7 mg/L), COD (54–82.25 mg/L), Fe (0.18–1.22 mg/L) and Pb (0.05–0.08 mg/L) and
were in the order Pb > Fe > COD > Cl. The mean of 1173 μS/cm for EC was slightly
below the permissible threshold of 1500 μS/cm. Cl, COD, Fe and Pb exceeded the
World Health Organisation (WHO) limit for drinking water. The dumpsite may have
influenced groundwater quality, however, health risk assessment revealed that HQ
and HI were below 1, indicating a low likelihood of adverse health effects. The
study recommends utilisation of anti-seepage systems to avert further seepage of
pollutants into groundwater.