Application of the HELP Model in a Semi-Arid Waste Dumpsite: A Case Study in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq

A common challenge for urban areas in developed countries is increasing the amount of solid waste. The Sulaimaniyah Governorate, located in the north of Iraq, characterized by a semi-arid climate region. Currently, there is no landfill site in the study area, and inappropriate solid waste dumping is causing adverse environmental impacts. This study reveals the present state of poor waste management that disposed of through open dumpsite; the core aspects are to evaluate the amount of solid waste leachate, which caused environmental pollution through water and soil. The HELP model was developed to evaluate the hydrological performance of the disposal site and analyze the water balance. The hydrological evaluation of the solid waste quantity from 2005 to 2018 resulted in an average yearly about 964.5 mm of final water storage in the study area. This study is a typical approach for evaluating solid waste leachate at disposal sites in semi-arid locations, and it will contribute in the planning of successful solid waste policy implementation for solid waste leachate treatment and reuse in agriculture.