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 undergrou
