Leachate

Top Previous Next

Definition

Any liquid, including any suspended components in the liquid that has percolated through or drained from human-emplaced materials.

Description

A product or solution formed by water percolating through waste.  Leachate is a cocktail of organic and/or inorganic compounds and can have a high total dissolved solids content.  Leachate is formed at waste sites, slimes dams, sewage works and in other bodies of waste.

Why is leachate important?

Leachate in the subsurface results in groundwater contamination.