Florida Counties Take the Lead on Innovative Leachate Solutions

Polk County, Florida, which used to spend $2.5 million annually in leachate hauling fees, is now being transformed into a showcase of environmental innovation. Thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration with the University of Florida, Polk unveiled a Constructed Wetlands Leachate Treatment System (CWLTS) designed to treat up to 46,000 gallons of landfill leachate daily—on site, sustainably, and without relying on third-party transport.

Leachate, the toxic liquid formed when rainwater percolates through landfill waste, contains ammonia, salts, and trace metals that threaten groundwater if untreated. Polk County’s new $11 million CWLTS mimics natural wetlands, using vegetation, sand layers, and a closed-loop system to biologically break down pollutants. Officials expect the facility to pay for itself within five years.

“This system eliminates our reliance on outside vendors and brings a natural, cost-effective solution to a growing problem,” said Dale Henderson, Polk County’s Solid Waste Director. “It’s a model for the future.”

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the spectrum in Michigan, Marquette County is setting a national example with its high-tech response to PFAS contamination in landfill leachate. With $7 million in funding, including over $4 million in forgiveness from Michigan’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the county installed a reverse osmosis system where the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) reports that the system is capable of removing 99.9% of PFAS, mercury, and chlorides before discharging the purified water into the Carp River. Their efforts earned the county an EPA PISCES Award for excellence in public health protection.

From low-energy wetlands systems in Florida to cutting-edge membrane filtration in Michigan, counties are embracing a full toolbox of physical, chemical, and biological treatments for leachate. Whether using engineered swamps or advanced nanotech, the message is clear: modern leachate management is no longer a liability, it’s a strategic asset.

Diamond Scientific proudly supports landfill operators in identifying the most effective, sustainable, and compliant treatment solutions—because clean water begins at the source.

CITATION:

What is Leachate: Hidden Dangers in Landfill Water; Category: Blog; Author: ACTenviro; Date: April 1, 2025

https://www.actenviro.com/what-is-leachate/#:~:text=Composite%20liners%20%E2%80%93%20Modern%20landfills%20use,the%20landfill%2C%20reducing%20liquid%20movement. ACTenviro: ACTenviro has National service and consulting capabilities across the US

Waste Today magazine; Posted by Tess Kazdin, Digital Editor; Published May 19, 2025

https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/news/michigan-landfill-recognized-by-epa-for-leachate-management-system/

Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; State Revolving Fund project at Marquette County landfill receives national recognition; May 14, 2025

https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2025/05/14/state-revolving-fund-marquette-county-landfill.

UF News; UF builds sustainable solution for landfill dilemma Dave Schlenker; September 16, 2024

https://news.ufl.edu/2024/09/polk-county-leachate-treatment-facility/