Europe's largest letreatment plant in Europe

2004/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

The leachate treatment plant to be built at the Artigas landfill in Bilbao will purify 35,000 cubic meters of dirty water annually from a city of 50,000 inhabitants. This treatment plant will be the largest leachate treatment plant in Europe.

Pollutants are mainly due to the organic load of leached water. This organic matter depletes environmental oxygen. However, in turn, the organic load gives leachates a high capacity for biodegradation, so biological treatment is recommended for purification.

The Artigas landfill, with an ultrafiltration after biological treatment, will prevent the emission of 1,400 kg daily of pollutants to the water, thus anticipating European legislation.