GROUND WATER CONTERMINATION

Groundwater Contamination

Over 50% of the world population depends on groundwater for drinking water. Groundwater is one of our most important sources of water for irrigation. Unfortunately, groundwater is susceptible to pollution by human activities.






Potential Threats

Chemical discharged into water system

Groundwater contamination occurs when man-made products such as gasoline, oil, road salts and chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to become unsafe and unfit for human use.Materials from the land's surface can move through the soil and end up in the groundwater. For example, pesticides and fertilizers can find their way into groundwater supplies over time. Road salt, toxic substances from mining sites, and used motor oil also gets into groundwater. Moreso Untreated waste from septic tanks and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks and leaky landfills also contaminate groundwater.

Dangers Of Contaminated Groundwater

Drinking contaminated groundwater

Drinking contaminated groundwater is highly hazardous to human and animal health. Diseases such as hepatitis and dysentery may be caused by contamination from septic tank waste. Poisoning may be caused by toxins that have leached into well water supplies. Other long term effects such as certain types of cancer also result from exposure to polluted water.





SOURCES OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

Storage Tanks

Leaking Storage tank

Storage tanks May contain gasoline, oil, chemicals, or other types of liquids and they can either be above or below ground. There are estimated to be over 10 million storage tanks buried in the United States and over time the tanks can corrode, crack and develop leaks. If the contaminants leak out and get into the groundwater, serious contamination can occur.
 


 



 Septic Systems

An Improper Septic System

Onsite wastewater disposal systems used by homes, offices or other buildings that are not connected to a city sewer system. Septic systems are designed to slowly drain away human waste underground at a slow, harmless rate. An improperly designed, located, constructed, or maintained septic system can leak bacteria, viruses, household chemicals, and other contaminants into the groundwater causing serious problems.
   



Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste

In the U.S. today, there are thought to be over 20,000 known abandoned and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and the numbers grow every year. Hazardous waste sites can lead to groundwater contamination if there are barrels or other containers laying around that are full of hazardous materials. If there is a leak, these contaminants can eventually make their way down through the soil and into the groundwater.
  




Landfills

Landfill Site

Landfills are the places that our garbage is taken to be buried. Landfills should have a protective bottom layer to prevent contaminants from getting into the water. However, if there is no layer or it is cracked, contaminants from the landfill (car battery acid, paint, household cleaners, etc.) will make their way down into the groundwater.
   











Chemicals and Road Salts

Workers applying Road Salts

The widespread use of chemicals and road salts is another source of groundwater contamination. Chemicals include products used on lawns and farm fields to kill weeds and insects and to fertilize plants, and other products used in homes and businesses. When it rains, these chemicals are washed into the ground and eventually into the water. Road salts are used in the wintertime to put melt ice on roads to keep cars from sliding around. When the ice melts, the salt gets washed off the roads and eventually ends up in the water.
  

Atmospheric Contaminants

Industrial Exhaustion

Groundwater is part of the hydrological cycle, contaminants in other parts of the cycle, such as the atmosphere or bodies of surface water will eventually eventually be transferred into our groundwater supplies.

We should apply more caution in our waste disposal procedures.