Complete Leachate Water Analysis Service
Our UKAS lab is accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025 for over 15 years. It is fully equipped for fast, efficient, high-quality leachate water analysis. We offer a comprehensive sampling, monitoring, and analysis service on a wide range of leachate water samples.
What is Leachate Water Analysis?
Leachate Water Analysis is a process used to assess the safety of groundwater supplies. It measures the levels of contaminants, such as heavy metals and other pollutants, in leachate water. Conducting this analysis helps ensure that drinking water sources are safe for human consumption and protects aquatic ecosystems from potential contamination.
Leachate Water Analysis allows you to:
- Identify any pollutants or contaminants present in the water supply
- Monitor changes over time to detect if further pollution is occurring
- Make informed decisions on how best to manage wastewater disposal
- Assess the risk of potential health issues caused by exposure to contaminated water
Water Types
Water types are categorised based on their source and regulated by government authorities and the Environment Agency for analysis.
ECT offers all the water testing services you need to cover any specific water type and requirement.
Water types we can test for include:
- Potable water (drinking water) from tap, borehole/well, or tank
- Surface water (river, pond, etc.)
- Leachate (landfill borehole or runoff from an identified source)
- Eluate (similar to leachate but normally laboratory derived)
- Seawater
- Groundwater
Leachate Testing
Leachate testing involves analysing the water to determine its chemical composition. This is undertaken using standard laboratory equipment such as a pH meter, conductivity meter, and other testing equipment. To obtain an accurate result, samples are collected using sterile containers and stored at a precise temperature before they are analysed.
The key tests that can be performed on leachate include:
Chemical analysis
This tests for contaminants like metals, organic compounds, and nutrients that could indicate the presence of leachates.
Microbiological analysis
This test detects microscopic organisms in the sample. These organisms are not visible to the naked eye but can have significant negative impacts on the environment if left uncontrolled.
Electrical analysis
An electrical analysis measures the electrical conductivity in the sample and can help identify any potential leachates.
The Leachate Water Analysis tests compare results to standards. This is done to check for leachate presence and identify the type of contamination it may have.
Our scope of laboratory methods for leachate preparation includes:
- Leachate preparation (single step L/S 2 test) – BS EN 12457-1
- Leachate preparation (single step L/S 10 test) – BS EN 12457-2
- pH dependence leaching test (initial acid/base addition) – CEN/TS 14429
- pH dependence leaching test (continuous pH control) – CEN/TS 14997
- WAC leachate preparation (two-step L/S 2 plus L/S 8 test) – BS EN 12457-3
- Up-flow percolation test – CEN/TS 14405
- Tank test – EA NEN 7375
Our scope of laboratory methods for leachate and water analysis includes:
- Alkalinity
- Ammoniacal Nitrogen
- Anions (sulphate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, bromide and phosphate)
- BTEX
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- Carbonate Content
- Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
- Metals and Metalloids
- Organic carbon (total and dissolved)
- Petroleum hydrocarbons (total, banded and speciated (aliphatic/aromatic))
- pH & conductivity
- Phenols
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
- Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
- Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC)
- Settleable Solids
- Total Dissolved Solids
- Total Suspended Solids
Please contact us if you require any further information
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is leachate and why is it bad?
“Leachate” describes liquid pollution that originates from a landfill and contaminates various water bodies. It is formed when rain or snow comes into contact with waste piles, drawing out harmful chemicals or constituents as it passes through. Leachate testing is frequently conducted to assess the potential risk of waste to release contaminants into the environment.
What are some examples of leachate?
Landfill leachates can contain numerous harmful chemicals, including certain compounds that are rare or absent in natural systems. For example, some water analysis results have shown elements such as mercury, lead, arsenic, copper, and cadmium present in contaminated water.
What is leachate analysis?
Leachate water analysis is crucial for assessing the safety of water bodies for people, wildlife, and the environment. During testing, specialists test water for contaminants, monitor changes, determine wastewater disposal methods, and assess the health risks associated with the area.
Why is leachate testing necessary?
Leachate testing enables the chemical, microbiological, and electrical analysis of contaminated water to determine its chemical composition and identify the type of leachate. This data informs decisions for wastewater management to ensure that leachates are appropriately disposed of and that water sources are safe for consumption.