What Happens When Groundwater Is Contaminated

Contaminated groundwater can be a serious health hazard to the environment and people who live near the contamination site

. While rules and regulations can vary in different countries, many developed nations have remediation plans for rehabilitating a contaminated site. The following guide provides information on the impact of contaminated groundwater.

Many Potential Contamination Sources

There are many things that can result in contamination of a groundwater supply. For example, many farms that use pesticide and fertilizer cannot use wells for drinking water. Over time, agricultural chemicals can seep through the ground and contaminate the water table.

In addition, landfills and dumps can result in the contamination of groundwater. Many landfills can contain many types of hazardous waste. While food waste and cardboard may not be hazardous, electronics and batteries can contain several dangerous components. Most computers contain trace levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and other heavy metals. While these substances are sealed in an electronic device during its lifetime, they can leak out of their containers when they are in a landfill. Wells surrounding a landfill can contain contaminated groundwater.

Some types of factories may produce waste effluent that is harmful to the environment. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strict regulations for pollutants in factory effluent, some types of factory waste can result in algal blooms. Algal blooms are often caused by factory effluent containing nutrients that allow algae to thrive.

One controversial source of groundwater pollution is fracking. Fracking is a process used by the petroleum and oil industry to increase the lifespan of an oil well. By forcing a specialized mix of chemicals down an oil well, it's often possible to increase its potential lifespan. Unfortunately, the chemicals used in fracking can be a serious health hazard.

Implications and Limitations

It's important to understand the implications of a drinking water source that may contain

contaminated groundwater. It's important to understand the limitations of filtration devices in a home. While a traditional carbon filter may be able to remove some sediment and chemicals from water, it will not make a contaminated water source safe to drink.

It's essential to have well water tested before use. This will help one avoid exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. In some cases, it may be necessary to purchase a distillation unit or reverse-osmosis filtration system for a home. This can be used to filter water containing heavy metals like lead and mercury.

In addition, it's a good idea to contact the EPA about groundwater pollution caused by a company.

by: William Hauselberg

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