The recalcitrance of
many organic compounds through conventional water and wastewater
treatment provides evidence that other ‘unknown’ pollutants
are likely to be also passing unchanged through water and
wastewater treatment. Many potable water supplies are often wastewater
impacted and many communities are implementing
strategies to reuse municipal wastewater for potable and nonpotable
uses. The shear magnitude of chemicals present in landfill
leachate demonstrates that this is an issue requiring further
attention.