Two existing, and 24 prospective, sanitary landfill sites in Madison, Wisconsin were examined. Former ground-water discharge characteristics of the existing sites have been altered as a result of the placement of fill and ground-water pumpage. Surface- and ground-water resources adjacent to landfill areas were found to receive pollutants although adverse effects were limited. Less than 5 per cent of the total organic and inorganic nitrogen and total soluble phosphorus entering Lake Monona was attributable to the landfill operation. Ground-water recharge was between 35 to 50 per cent of annual precipitation with lateral discharge to adjacent ground- and surface-water resources. The increase in dissolved chemical species was high, but restricted to local areas. Over the past 27 years, background quality in the two creeks receiving drainage changed by a 10-22 fold decrease in organic nitrogen and a 2-2.9 fold decrease in inorganic nitrogen. Phosphorus levels increased 2-6 fold. Decreased base flow and urbanization have possibly influenced these changes. (Author)