Definition: Leaching is a process where certain elements are extracted from a solid surface by injecting liquid. The procedure involves the exposure of a solid element to water to wash a substance out of it.
What Does Leaching Mean?
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There are many different fields where a leaching process can be applied. From an agricultural standpoint, leaching is important to keep soils free from polluting elements. On the other hand, a heavy rain that causes a flood in the fields will generate a leaching process that will normally affect the crops negatively, since the nutrients will be washed away with the excess water.
Herbal infusions are another example of leaching, since a beverage is extracted from the herb by exposing it to water. From a metaphoric standpoint, leaching is a concept that can be applied to business when it comes to “washing” certain elements that are affecting its performance negatively.
A business unit that is bringing losses, an unproductive activity or department or certain contracts that are not performing properly are examples of potential leaching scenarios that managers often have to address to keep the business healthy.
Example
Noguera & Associates is a law firm with more than 20 years of experience working with agricultural businesses. Recently they received a case where a local farmer accidentally leached another farmer’s property, causing the crops to be severely affected, with 25% of the crops entirely lost. They are currently representing the affected farmer, who filed a lawsuit for $219,000 for damages and losses caused by this incident.
Apparently, it is not the first time this happens and the victim has suffered from these situations 2 times in the past but to keep relationships healthy he decided not to press charges against his neighbor. Nevertheless, in those two instances the losses were very mild, but this time is different. The lawyers at Noguera & Associates are confident they can reach a settlement for the leaching incident by offering the farmer the opportunity to pay for the damages with a portion of his own crop.
