3 Symptons Which Could Be Caused By Leachate Pollution And Are Worth Looking Out For

It is almost always the case that a problem like leachate pollution can easily be diagnosed and solved by matching the symptoms that you see, to a known problem. In fact that's what a medical doctor spends his time doing every time he interviews a patient. However, the technique isn't just limited to the practise of medicine, it works for all sorts of problems. That is why we have written this article to help you understand what the symptoms of leachate pollution are.

So, before we go any further, here are the three symptoms often experienced when quite severe leachate pollution occurs in a river or stream occurs as the river or stream passes a landfill. 

Sympton No. 1 is the disappearance of the normal water-life. The first to be lost will be fish which can no longer live due to a depletion of oxygen in the water.

Sympton No. 2, which is often seen in such circumstanes is that if flow is quite slow the surface of the water may have a sheen of colour which looks almost like the rainbow colours of oil floating on water. However, if leachate is the cause instead of a flexible coating, this colourful surface layer can be cracked and dispersed by agitating it.

This most often occurs when a high concentration of dissolved iron is leaking into the watercourse, in the leachate.

Sympton No. 3: The final symptom in these cases is that if a water quality sample is taken and the concentration of ammonia is analysed the ammonia will have risen, alongside other contaminants as well, during the passage of the stream or river past the landfill.

This happens when the rain which fell on the landfill decomposes in the landfil, producing high concentrations of ammonia which are very damaging to wildlife if it gets into watercourses.

If you have seen these symptoms of leachate pollution you are lucky, as you now know the diagnosis of the problem of leachate pollution, and knowing the problem is the first, and often the most difficult part of identifying and successfully applying a solution.

Congratulations, you have now found out what is causing these symptoms and the cause of the  problem. Don't stop now. There are many ways in which you can now find the solution to this problem. One method which is used, is to use the internet and continue by using a search engine to identify a website with the solution to this problem, but there are many other solutions such as asking an expert you know, or visiting a library.

Whichever method you use, we wish you a successful search for the solution you seek.

Discover tips on how to prevent leachate pollution at the leachate management site at leachate.co.uk.