Leachate forms when precipitation infiltrates the landfill and, through compression, water is squeezed out of the waste. In older landfills, leachate also forms when groundwater and surface water penetrate the landfill. Contaminated water from surfaces can affect the amount when it collects along with the leachate.
Leachate can contain substances such as heavy metals, nitrogen, organic compounds, and long-lived chemicals like PFAS, which damage our environment when they leak into our natural water systems.
Cooling water is water used to cool processes in industries, energy production, or other operations. It can be sourced from lakes, seas, or groundwater and is returned after being heated.
Cooling water is used in power plants, factories, and other facilities where excess heat needs to be dissipated. It can impact the environment through temperature changes and may contain chemicals that require treatment before discharge.
Surface water is the water found in lakes, rivers, seas, and wetlands. Eutrophication occurs when an excess of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, enters the soil and water. This leads to increased algae growth in lakes and seas, resulting in higher water turbidity and further algal blooms. As these organisms decompose, they can cause oxygen depletion in the water. Eutrophication primarily affects water bodies located in densely populated or agricultural areas.
Stormwater is rainwater and meltwater that flows over surfaces such as roofs, streets, parking lots, and park areas after rainfall. Rainwater from densely populated areas is often polluted and must therefore be treated before being discharged into the stormwater system, seas, lakes, or waterways.
Process water is water used in industrial processes, such as manufacturing, cooling, or cleaning. It may contain chemicals, metals, and other pollutants that require treatment before being discharged or reused.
PFAS is becoming increasingly common and can be found in all types of water environments, such as groundwater, leachate, and water from other exposed areas. Meeting or even reaching the current limit values is a significant challenge. Purifying water from PFAS therefore requires advanced treatment processes. With our methods, we achieve a reduction of up to 99.5%, depending on the water’s composition and the scale of the treatment system.
