ABSTRACT
Infiltration of precipitation and migration of water through municipal solid waste landfills produce leachate that contains undesirable or toxic organic and inorganic chemicals. Landfill leachate has long been a source of groundwater and surface water contamination, and in recent years efforts have been directed toward limiting the production and migration of leachate. The most often used method is to haul leachate to a licensed sewage treatment plant. Use of on-site, conventional treatment is generally avoided due to high construction and operation costs and requirements for continuous monitoring by a licensed operator. The ideal method would treat a wide range of chemical constituents, be able to accept varying quantities and concentrations of leachate, and be inexpensive to construct and easy to maintain with low energy and manpower requirements. Constructed wetlands used as treatment systems have the potential to meet these criteria.
