Running Head: SOURCES OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
Sources of Ground Water Contamination
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SOURCES OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
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Ground water is used by a large number of the population for irrigation and drinking. The
water is susceptible to being polluted and thereafter cause harm to the users. The contamination
mainly occurs when manmade products such as gasoline and oil get into the ground water. The
major sources of ground water contamination are: Storage tanks, septic systems, uncontrolled
hazardous waste, atmospheric contaminants, chemical and road salts and landfills (Kaluarachchi,
2001).
Storage tanks may be above the ground or below the ground. They usually contain
chemicals, oils and other types of liquids. The contents of the tanks may leak and get their way to
the underground and cause contamination. Septic systems are built to dispose waste water in
homes and offices. An improperly designed septic system may leak bacteria and viruses thereby
contaminate the ground water. Atmospheric contaminants may find their way into the ground
water, since the ground water is part of the hydrologic cycle. Chemical and road salts, some of
which are used on farms to kill weeds, may get into the underground water when it rains and
contaminate it. Landfills with no protective bottom layer may allow contaminants to get into the
underground water (Kaluarachchi, 2001).
From the identified ground sources, the one which seems the most pervasive is the
uncontrolled hazardous waste. Hazardous waste sites leads to underground water being
contaminated, when containers with hazardous materials are left lying carelessly on the ground.
It seems pervasive since uncontrolled hazardous waste sites are growing in number by the year.
Currently, the United States has over 20 000 uncontrolled hazardous waste site Geophysics
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(Research Forum (U.S.), 1984). To limit the underground water contamination, one may ensure
that once the containers containing chemical hazards are used, they are well disposed according
to the right procedure of doing so.
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References
Geophysics Research Forum (U.S.). (1984). Groundwater contamination. Washington, D.C:
National Academy Press.
Kaluarachchi, J. J. (2001). Groundwater contamination by organic pollutants: Analysis and
remediation. Reston, Va: American Society of Civil Engineers.