A facility for treating leachate, the liquid that forms at landfills, has been launched today in Chisinau. The first of its kind in the country, the equipment is relatively mobile, and after treating leachate from a landfill located on Uzinelor Street first, the station could be moved to other locations if needed, the Mayor’s Office said in a press release.
The facility, which took half a year and 4.67 million lei to build, has a capacity to process 53 cubic meters of leachate a day. It uses reverse osmosis as its working principle, whereby the liquid is forced through a semipermeable membrane through which water, but not the contaminants, can pass. The resulting output is non-potable water. The cost of treating a cubic meter of leachate ranges from 6 to 8 euros.
Acting mayor Ruslan Codreanu said the new facility will help to reduce pollution, minimizing the negative impact that could affect future generations. Leachate from the Sângera landfill will also be brought in for treatment, said Codreanu, adding that a similar facility, but with a double capacity, is now being built at the Țânțăreni landfill.