Abstract Open dumping is a widely practiced waste disposal method in urban areas of developing countries including Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The absence of leachate management enables leachate to migrate freely into nearby water resources. This study evaluated the pollution potential of Repi dumpsite on the adjacent Jemo River, which receives leachate from the dumpsite as it drains downstream. Four leachate samples (L1–L4) and six river water samples (SW1-SW6) were collected. Leachate and river water quality were examined using standard methods. The pollution potential of dumpsite leachate and river water degradation were assessed using leachate pollution index (LPI), comprehensive pollution index (CPI), and irrigation indices. Results indicated that the dumpsite leachate contains high concentrations of organic contaminants as indicated by COD (19,600 mg/L), BOD₅ (2000 mg/L) and phenolic compounds (0.23 mg/L), heavy metals including Cu (31 mg/L), Fe (4.36 mg/L), and Zn (1.59 mg/L), and fecal coliforms (220 CFU/100 mL). The BOD₅, phenolic compounds, and Zn exceeded USEPA leachate discharge limits. The determined LPI values (19.57–26.29) were significantly higher than the Indian treated leachate discharge limit (7.49). The calculated CPI value of 5.05 confirms that water quality was deteriorated. Most irrigation indices (SAR, % Na⁺, KR, SSP) indicated good to excellent suitability, though elevated magnesium hazard and potential salinity in some samples suggest long-term soil permeability and productivity risks. This study concluded that combining pollution indices is a promising approach for assessing the dumpsite leachate impacts on surface water quality, providing insights that necessitate remedial actions in the urban areas of developing countries.
Haligamo et al. (Sun,) studied this question.