British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Leachate definition

Definition: Leachate is the drainage water that carries other substances, either in solution or as suspended solids. Most of our waste is dumped in landfill sites - when it rains, water seeps into the waste and is contaminated. The runoff can then find its way into our rivers and adversely affects the water quality - this drainage water is called Leachate. The River Elk in Canada was contaminated with a mineral called Selenium. Rainfall and subsequent runoff from a local coal mining quarry found their way into the river and caused deformities in the fish. When the water was checked they found a high concentration of Selenium in the water which came from the leachate from the quarry.