Research Causes and Effects of Groundwater Contamination

Ground Water Contamination
Name:
Institution:
Course:
Date:
Outline
* Ground water description
* Ground water contamination
* Causes
* Point Contamination
* Industrial Contamination
* Sewage Systems
* Onsite water treatment
* Non point pollution sources
* Storm drains
* Sewerage systems
* Agricultural waste
* Landfills
* Health effects
* Digestive system
* Carcinogenic effects
* Ground water description
In the United States alone, more than 50% of the population uses water that is sourced from ground water. However the greatest use of the ground water is largely for irrigation. Ground water is found in the water table and specifically in the aquifers, which are basically below ground fractured stones, sand, sandstone and limestone which form the permeable rock structure that are layered above the impermeable bedrock. It is on this rock that the water collects and creates a water table. Depending on the depth bedrock and the aquifer, the water table will closer to the surface or deeper and so is the ground water. The ground water is replenished by rain water and the snow that melts and seeps into the ground.
* Ground water contamination
This is a process that largely relates to pollutants reaching the ground water in the aquifers from various sources. As waters from the rain and the snow, which replenish the ground come into contact with pollutants in the air or in the ground, they contaminate the ground water reserves. There are two main sources of ground water contamination which include point contamination and non-point contamination.
* Causes
* Point Contamination
* Industrial Contamination
In most of the cases, industrial wastes are constantly emptied into the rivers using pipes and drains (Welsch & Lieber, 1955). Most of the industrial waste is laced with chemical compounds that when in contact with the water ("groundwater contamination", 2016). Industrial pollution on the ground water has been a historical practice and one that is marred with a lot of controversies relative to impact of the wastes on available water ("Point and nonpoint sources of water pollution", 2016).
* Sewage Systems
Most of the sewage system in the developed and the developing countries is relayed into the water ways such as rivers, oceans and seas. While there have been some radical improvement...