Why is Leachate Management Important?
Groundwater is used widely throughout the UK for public supply, industry and agriculture. Of the total of all water used for public supply, about 27% is derived from groundwater (Source: British Geological Survey 2004).
It is essential for the provision of good drinking water to the nation, that the nation’s underground water supplies do not become polluted. Although most polluted underground water sources can be treated at a cost, it would be completely unsupportable on any grounds to do anything other than to do our utmost to avoid groundwater pollution occurring in the first place.
Engineers who are set the task of planning for future water supplies are concerned about the rapid increase that has been seen in the number of polluted underground water supplies. They have even suggested that in the UK, unless the implementation of the new Water Framework Directive (WFD), happens soon, and is much more effective than previous efforts in preventing new pollutants entering these underground “lakes”, the effect will be very damaging.
In fact they estimate that all of them will be so contaminated with one or more chemicals, that they will all require special treatment by about 2030, unless the WFD is more successful in protecting this water in the years that come, than they have been in previous attempts.
The primary aim of leachate management is to protect underground water quality.
References:
UKWIR (2004) Implications of changing groundwater quality for water resources and the UK water industry. Phase 1 Financial and water resources impact UKWIR Ref No. 04/WR/09/8.
Environment Agency (2001) Water resources for the future, a strategy for England and Wales. Environment Agency, Bristol.
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