Abstract
This study seeks to assess the groundwater and leachate quality in Balaoan sanitary landfill using physico- chemical and biological parameters and to compare the results to quality standards. Groundwater and leachate samples were collected through grab sampling during the months of February and April and sent for laboratory analyses. Except for the Total coliform and E. coli counts, the physico-chemical parameters of the groundwater samples such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and nitrate were found to conform to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW). Leachate samples in terms of pH, chemical oxygen demand were found to conform to the regulatory limit while toxic metals such as cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and mercury showed very low concentration based on DAO 35, series of 1990 Class C waters. Groundwater samples from tube wells near the sanitary landfill are no longer safe for human consumption.
