Groundwater Pollution

Groundwater Pollution (also called Groundwater

Contamination) occurs when pollutants are released to
the ground and make their way down into groundwater.
It can also occur naturally due to the presence of a
minor and unwanted contaminant in the groundwater,
in which case it is more likely referred to
ascontaminationrather thanpollution.

Pollution can be defined as an impairment of water

quality by chemicals, heat or bacteria to a degree that
does not necessarily create an actual public health
hazard, but does adversely affect waters for domestic,
farm, municipal, commercial or industrial use.
Contamination denotes impairment of water quality by
chemical or bacterial pollution to a degree that creates an
actual hazard to public health.
The greatest danger of groundwater pollution is from
surface sources, including animal manure, sewage
sludge, leaking sewers, polluted streams and refusedisposal sites. Areas with a thin cover of superficial
deposits or where an aquifer is exposed, such as a
recharge area, are the most critical from the point of
view of pollution potential.
Any possible source of pollution or contamination in
these areas should be carefully evaluated, both before
and after any groundwater supply well is constructed and
the viability of groundwater protection measures are

One approach to groundwater quality management is

to indicate areas with high pollution potential on a map
and to pay particular attention to activities within
these vulnerable areas.
The attenuation of a pollutant as it enters and moves
through the ground occurs as a result of biological,
chemical and physical processes. Hence, the selfcleansing capacity of a soil or rock aquifer system
depends on the physical and chemical attributes of the
pollutant, the nature of the soil or rock comprising the
aquifer and the way in which the pollutant enters the
ground. In general, the concentration of a pollutant
decreases as the distance it has travelled through the
ground increases.
However, it should be appreciated that the slow rate of
travel of pollutants in underground strata means that a
case of pollution may go undetected for a number of
years.

Groundwater usually moves slowly.

Contaminants
generally
undergo
less
dilution(mixing) than when in surface water.

Concentrated sources of pollution are most undesirable

because the self-cleansing ability of the ground in that
area is likely to be exceeded. As a result, the raw
pollutant may be able to enter an aquifer and travel some
considerable distance from the source before being
reduced to a negligible concentration. A much greater
hazard exists when the pollutant is introduced into an
aquifer beneath the soil horizon.

Induced infiltration occurs where a stream is hydraulically

connected to an aquifer and lies within the area of influence of a
well. When the well is over pumped, a cone of depression
develops and spreads.
Eventually, the aquifer may be recharged by the influent seepage of
surface water, so that some proportion of the pumpage from the well
then is obtained from the surface source. Induced infiltration is
significant from the point of view of groundwater pollution in two
respects.
Firstly, hydraulic gradients
may result in pollutants
travelling in the opposite
direction from that normally
expected.
Secondly, surface water
resources are often less
pure than the underlying
groundwater; hence the
danger of pollution

A list of potential groundwater pollutants would be almost

endless, although one of the most common sources is Sewage
Sludge.
This material arises from the separation and concentration of most of
the waste materials found in sewage. Since sludge contains nitrogen
and phosphorus, it has value as a fertilizer. Although this does not
necessarily lead to groundwater pollution, the presence in sludge of
contaminants such as heavy metals, nitrates, persistent organic
compounds and pathogens does mean that the practice must be
carefully controlled.

The disposal of wastes in landfill sites leads to the production of

leachate and gases, which may present a health hazard as a
consequence of pollution of groundwater supply.
Leachate often contains high concentrations of dissolved
organic substances resulting from the decomposition of organic
material such as vegetable matter and paper.
Pathogenscontained in human or animalfecescan lead to
groundwater pollution when they are given the opportunity to
reach the groundwater, making it unsafe for drinking.

Leachate pollution can be tackled by either concentrating and

containing, or by diluting and
dispersing. Infiltration through sandy ground of liquids from a
landfill may lead to their decontamination and dilution. Hence,
sites for disposal of domestic refuse can be chosen where
decontamination has the maximum chance of reaching completion
Consequently,
domestic waste
canare
be tipped
dry
sitesenough
on sandy
and where groundwater
sources
locatedatfar
away
to
material
that has
a effective.
thickness of at least 15 m. Water supply
enable dilution
to be
sources should be located at least 0.8 km away from the landfill
site. They should not be located on discontinuous rocks unless
overlain by 15 m of clay deposits. Potential toxic waste should be
contained. Such sites should be underlain and confined by at least
15 m of impermeable strata, and any source abstracting
groundwater for domestic use should be at least 2 km away.
For instance, toxic or oily
liquid waste represents a
serious risk,
Therefore, selection of a
landfill site for a particular
waste or a mixture of wastes
involves a consideration of the
geological and
hydrogeological conditions.

Cemeteries form a possible health hazard. Decomposing bodies

produce fluids that can leak to the water table if a leakproof coffin
is not used.
The minimum distance required by law between a potable-water well
and a cemetery is 91.4 m. However, a distance of around 2500 m is
better because the purifying processes in the soil can sometimes break
down.
Poorly Constructed
Irrigation Wells

Mining
Activities

These wells can allow contaminants to enter

ground water. Often pesticides and fertilizers are
applied in the immediate vicinity of wells on
agricultural land.

Active and abandoned mines can contribute to ground water

contamination. Precipitation can leach soluble minerals from the mine
waste into the ground water below. These wastes often contain metals,
acids, minerals, and sulphides. Abandoned mines are often used as
wells and waste pits, sometimes simultaneously. In addition, mines are
sometimes pumped to kkeep them dry; the pumping can cause an
upward migration of contaminated ground water, wich may be

In General, Ground water contamination is nearly

always the result of human activity. Virtually, any
activity whereby chemicals or wastes may be released
to the environment, either intentionally or accidentally,
has the potential to pollute ground water.

Contamination of ground water can result in poor

drinking water quality, loss of water supply, degraded
surface water systems, high cleanup costs, high costs
for alternative water supplies, and/or potential health
problems. The consequences of contaminated ground
water or degraded surface water are often serious.
Because ground water generally moves slowly,
contamination often remains undetected for long
periods of time.
This makes cleanup of a contaminated water supply
difficult, if not impossible. If a cleanup is undertaken, it

Preventing contaminants from reaching the ground

water is the best way to reduce the health risks
associated with poor drinking water quality.