Author(s)

J.J.S.P. Cabral, G.S. Perrier Jr. & I.D.S. Pontes Fo

Abstract

Since 1985, municipal waste from Recife Metropolitan Region has been dumped in Muribeca. This site was previously used for agricultural purposes, but in the last 10 years waste has been spread over a 60 hectare area. Soil thickness in the region varies from 3.0 to 15.0 metres over an impervious rock layer. Phreatic aquifer is being contaminated by leachate, and in nearby region several small farmers drink water from shallow dug wells. Geophisical methods have been used to analyse soil and geological layers. Water samples have been collected for several months and analysed in laboratories. Bacteria level were high and also concentration of some substances were above allowed levels. A project to remediate the area has started by building cells

Keywords