<p>Groundwater resources, vital for domestic and agricultural use in India, are highly vulnerable to pollution from landfills and dumps, which handle 90% of waste disposal. Protecting groundwater resources supports SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and indirectly contributes to SDG 3 (good health and well-being). In this study, we assessed the groundwater pollution and potential human health risks around the Shivari landfill in Lucknow. Physicochemical analysis of groundwater, landfill leachate, and municipal solid waste (MSW) was conducted. Correlation analysis revealed that most physicochemical constituents have significant correlations and exhibit an inverse correlation with the distance from the landfill. Factor analysis revealed four factors influencing pollutant concentrations in groundwater, accounting for 94.38% of the total variance. MSW’s toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) showed that heavy metals have high leachable concentrations, indicating a strong potential for environmental pollution. Groundwater stations near the landfill recorded heavy metal pollution indexes (HPI) exceeding the critical threshold of 100, primarily due to elevated contributions of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Human health risk assessment identified both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards across age groups through ingestion and dermal absorption. Total hazard index and total cancer risk values indicate that infants are more vulnerable than adults, with groundwater stations closer to the landfill showing higher health risk potentials. Arsenic poses significant non-carcinogenic health risks, while nickel and cadmium present high carcinogenic risks. The relationship between waste management practices, groundwater pollution, and public health explored in this study offers valuable insights to support sustainability in MSW management and influence the adoption of sustainable environmental and public health policies.</p> Graphical Abstract <p>The graphical abstract provides a quick visual summary of the methodologies and key findings of this study. It illustrates the waste disposal and resulting groundwater pollution from landfill leachate percolation around the shivari landfill in lucknow. The study was conducted to examine the complex relationship between waste management, groundwater contamination, and human health, as depicted in the graphical abstract. Municipal solid waste, leachate, and groundwater samples, as shown in the shivari village map, were collected from around the landfill and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and heavy metals. Statistical analysis involved factor analysis and the pearson correlation, which was efficient in identifying trends and patterns among the data points. heavy metal analysis data was used to map the extent of heavy metal contamination around the landfill and assess associated health risks. Groundwater stations near the landfill showed heavy metal pollution problems due to elevated concentrations of cadmium (CD) and lead (PB). Total hazard index (ThI) and Total cancer risk (TCR) were computed for four age groups (infants, children, teens, and adults). The results showed that age and both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards were inversely correlated, with adults having a low health risk and infants having a greater health risk. These findings provide valuable insights for various stakeholders, including waste management and public health authorities, on the link between waste management and public health. They can serve as motivation to address the environmental, social, and health challenges associated with waste management.</p> <p></p>