Due to poor and underdeveloped garbage disposal and wastewater collection infrastructure in northern Gilan Province, leachate from landfills leaks into groundwater aquifers and paddy fields, a lawmaker from the region said.
“The inflow of massive leachate into groundwater tables and farmlands is a growing concern that needs to be addressed either by setting up waste incineration plants or building compost factories,” Hassan Mohammadyari was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
Close to 90% of water demand in the region are met from underground resources and failing to efficiently stop leakages of garbage will contaminate underground water tables and endanger the health of at least 3 million people, he added.
Mohammadyari noted that forests, lakes and coastlines in the province have long been suffering from poor waste management for a long time, adding that all kinds of trash are dumped in Nature, thanks to outdated and unsanitary methods used by municipalities.
Waste is being disposed without conducting specialized study on the geological features of the region or the state of groundwater resources.
“This can cause the spread of contaminants and diseases to rural and urban areas, and cattle might feed on these materials. Besides, due to heavy rainfall in the northern areas, effluents can be carried downstream,” he added.
Experts stress that municipalities must be tasked with using standard and up-to-date techniques, and import modern waste-burners to dispose of rubbish, turn it into compost or use it to generate electricity.
Sewage collection facilities in the area are also lagging behind, especially in the rural areas.
Lost to Seepage
An estimated 90 million cubic meters of wastewater are produced by households in the northern tourist region, a big part of which (70 mcm) is not recycled and flows into the Caspian Sea or is lost to seepage.
Collecting wastewater is key to protecting the environment otherwise it can contaminate clean underground water.
Annual water consumption in the household sector in the major northern tourist hub is 150 mcm, which produces close to 90 mcm of effluent. Not reclaiming the massive volume is a big economic and environmental loss with adverse effects for the water tables, the lawmaker said.
Sewage collection network in the province extends over 1,000 kilometers but many households, chiefly in rural areas, are yet to be linked to it.
Lack of efficient rainwater management in Gilan is the main cause of floods, mainly in the suburban areas.
Annual rainfall in the green and picturesque region is about 1,100 millimeters – the highest in Iran. Nevertheless, due to the absence of wastewater and surface water collection networks, high levels of precipitation has always spelled trouble for the residents who bear the consequences of floods.
