Landfills are dumps used to dispose of household, commercial and industrial wastes and are privately or municipally owned. Dumps can contaminate groundwater and soil with hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals or solvents. These hazardous chemicals are found in household cleaning products, industrial waste, automobile parts and numerous other items classified as “solid waste”. Landfill liners slow down the process of leakage... eventually all landfills leak, according to the EPA. As rain and snow move through any contaminated waste and soil, some chemicals can dissolve and contaminate the water. This tainted water is known as leachate and can contain high concentrations of chemicals.