Why does leachate need to be treated rather than discharging to the environment?
A. Normal domestic waste leachate contains many nutrients to much higher strengths than for example domestic sewage. These are harmful to receiving watercourses. Leachate also contains many other substances which, depending upon the types of waste disposed of into the landfill, may be toxic to life, or may simply alter the ecology of the stream or watercourse, if not removed by treatment.
