Responsible Leachate Treatment: Protecting Waterways from Landfill Runoff

Landfills are a necessary part of waste management, but they come with a hidden environmental challenge: leachate. This highly contaminated liquid forms when water percolates through waste materials, picking up pollutants along the way. Left untreated, leachate can pose serious risks to groundwater, surface water, and public health.

At Valicor, we specialize in reliable, compliant, and sustainable treatment solutions for landfill leachate. Our facilities are equipped to manage this complex waste stream, helping our customers meet environmental regulations and safeguard the ecosystems that surround their sites.

What Is Leachate?

Leachate is a mixture of rainwater, decomposed organic material, and chemicals released from various waste types. It often contains:

• Heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, cadmium)
• Ammonia and nitrogen compounds
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
• Pathogens and suspended solids

This combination makes landfill leachate one of the most difficult wastewater streams to treat. Its composition can vary dramatically by site, season, and the age of the landfill, requiring a treatment approach that’s both flexible and highly controlled.

Valicor’s Approach to Leachate Management

With decades of experience in industrial wastewater, Valicor offers turnkey solutions for landfill leachate treatment. Our network of centralized wastewater treatment (CWT) facilities is engineered to handle non-hazardous wastewater around the country.

Key advantages of working with Valicor include:

• Specialized Treatment Capacity: Our CWT facilities are equipped with chemical treatment, biological systems, and advanced filtration to handle the wide variability of leachate constituents.
• Regulatory Compliance: We manage leachate in accordance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations, including strict discharge permits.
• PFAS Mitigation: Our facilities are PFAS-aware and can manage leachate containing these persistent chemicals through approved and compliant handling methods.
• Reliable Logistics: Our team coordinates leachate transportation and manifesting, offering full cradle-to-grave documentation.
• Scalable Solutions: Whether you manage a small municipal landfill or a large regional site, we can support both routine volumes and peak stormwater events.

Why Proper Leachate Treatment Matters

Poorly managed leachate can result in regulatory fines, environmental damage, and public backlash. As landfill operators face increasing scrutiny around PFAS contamination and nutrient pollution, the need for trusted treatment partners is greater than ever.

At Valicor, we don’t just treat water—we help our partners build long-term environmental stewardship into their operations.

Partner with Valicor for Landfill Leachate Treatment

If you’re a landfill operator, engineering consultant, or municipal agency looking for a reliable leachate management partner, Valicor is here to help. We bring industry knowledge, environmental integrity, and nationwide service coverage to every project.

Contact us today to learn how we can support your landfill’s water management goals with dependable, cost-effective solutions.