Characterization of the Dynamics of Leachate Contamination Plumes in the Surroundings of the Hulene-B Waste Dump in Maputo, Mozambique

Integration of Electrical Resistivity and Modified DRASTIC Model to Assess Groundwater Vulnerability in the Surrounding Area of Hulene-B Waste Dump, Maputo, Mozambique

In this study, electrical resistivity was applied in six 400 m profiles around the Hulene-B waste dump (Mozambique). Afterwards, an inversion was performed by RES2Dinv. The use of the electrical resistivity method allowed us to characterize in detail some underlying aspects of the DRASTIC index by identifying anomalous zones considered to be permeable and prone to leachate migration. The modified DRASTIC index revealed high values in areas near contaminated surface groundwater and surface layers of the vadose zone, characterized by low resistivities. Areas with lower index results were characterized by high resistivity on surface layers and high depth at which groundwater was detected. The overall modified DRASTIC index result revealed medium vulnerability. However, high vulnerability index values were detected in areas with higher surface elevation, suggesting groundwater contamination by horizontal dilution of leachates from the surrounding area of the Hulene-B waste dump.