The stable isotope of hydrogen as an indicator of Mediouna landfill leachate pollution (Casablanca, Morocco)

Since 1986 the municipal solid wastes produced by the city of Casablanca are stockpiled in Mediouna Landfill installed on old quarries without liner or leachate collection system. A previous study had shown an advance of the pollution plume from the landfill due to the faults affecting the fractured aquifer matrix. The aim of our study is to use the unique isotopic characteristics observed in landfill leachate as an indicator for confirming whether contamination is from landfill or from some other local sources. Oxygen-18 and deuterium investigation was undertaken on samples collected, from wells upstream and downstream the landfill. Compared to hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of local precipitation some wells' samples show an enrichment of hydrogen isotope. This data is used to delimit pollution plume extension. The deuterium is useful as an environmental indicator for municipal landfill pollution but not sufficient. (author)