Preserving Our Ponds and Rivers: Groundwater Contamination Resources

Author: Terry Newhaven

Water pollution is the contamination of bodies of water including lakes, ponds, rivers, groundwater and oceans. It occurs when substances are discharged into water bodies – either directly or indirectly – without a sufficient amount of treatment to remove the harmful compounds. Not only does water pollution affect the water, it also has an effect on the organisms and plants within these bodies of water. In most cases, the damage done by water and groundwater pollution is not only done to the general population and individual species, but it also has an effect on the natural biological communities.

Agricultural Causes

A number of agricultural factors are the cause of groundwater contamination. One such instance is when fertilizer is left in the soil after the crop has harvested; this allows the soil to further absorb the fertilizer and the nitrate goes into the water when it percolates through the root zone. The same process occurs with pesticides and chemical spills. Livestock waste, wells and underground storage are other agricultural causes for groundwater contamination.

• Washington State University: Clean Water for Washington: Information on why there is a concern for groundwater contamination due to agriculture.
• FAO: Introduction to Agricultural Water Pollution: Frequently asked questions associated with agricultural water pollution.
• North Dakota State University: Potential Groundwater Contamination from Agricultural Pesticide: Report completed by a water specialist that covers the potential contamination to groundwater due to agricultural pesticide in North Dakota.
• OMAFRA: Factsheet: Factsheet on the assessment of potential groundwater contamination on your farm as provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.
• REPEC: Regulating Agricultural Groundwater Contamination: Resource to comment and abstract on the regulation of groundwater contamination.

Individual Causes

When discussing individual causes of groundwater contamination, some of the agricultural causes may overlap. Fertilizer is one of those items that can be considered an agricultural cause as well as an individual cause of groundwater contamination; this is because it is the individual who is putting down the fertilizer. Other types of litter can seep through soil, go into the aquifers below, and may include pesticides, septic systems, motor oil, paint, cleaners and detergents. Homes can also cause groundwater contamination due to the building and foreign materials that go into the earth.

• The Groundwater Foundation: Sources of Groundwater Contamination: Information on the various sources of groundwater contamination.
• Water Encyclopedia: Types of Groundwater Contamination: Information on the different types of groundwater contamination.
• DrinkWell: Water Contamination - Natural and Man-Made: The sources of groundwater contamination including man-made and natural reasons.
• State of Connecticut: Groundwater Contamination: Groundwater contamination information including sources as provided by the Department of Environmental Protection in State of Connecticut.

Industrial Causes

An industrial cause of groundwater contamination refers to the pollution of groundwater that is caused by industrial waste. This includes chemical spills and the storage of these chemicals, fuel storage and spills, underground storage tanks, pipelines and mining piles. Air pollution can also be a factor due to the smog and other chemical that is emitted through the air. Air pollution has an effect on groundwater contamination due to the water cycle; it eventually becomes a part of the groundwater.

• CGIAR: Groundwater Pollution and Contamination in India: Report on the cases of ground water contamination in India.
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Source and Extent of Groundwater Contamination: Statistics and figures of sources and the extent of groundwater contamination.
• LennTech: Sources of Groundwater Pollution: Detailed information on the sources of groundwater pollution.
• African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology: Assessment of Groundwater Contamination: Assessment of groundwater contamination in Pakistan.

Contamination Prevention

There many ways we can reduce and prevent groundwater contamination. For industrial waste, it is important to create stronger containers and regularly check for any leaks in order to prevent chemical spills. Individual causes can be prevented when we stop littering and dispose of the waste that is found on the ground. When speaking in terms of agricultural pollution, switch to organic products that will not have a negative effect on the earth.

• MTU: Prevention of Contamination: Information on how groundwater contamination can be prevented.
• Water Replenishing District of Southern California: Groundwater Contamination Prevention: Explanation of what groundwater contamination is and how it can be prevented.
• Resource4the People: Groundwater Contamination: Free environmental law case review on groundwater contamination and how it can be prevented.
• Water Quality Products: Groundwater Contamination: Sources and prevention of groundwater contamination.

Organizations/Associations

• Preserve America's Waterways: About PA Waterways: Information about the organization to preserve the waterways of America.
• EPA Victoria: Preserving Waterways: Information on the organization to prevent the waterways.
• Water Use It Wisely: Link and resources to additional information on water conservation.

Publications

• University of Missouri: Reducing the Risk of Groundwater Contamination: Ways to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination by improving household water treatment.
• Texas Groundwater Protection Committee: Groundwater Contamination: List of publications on groundwater contamination as provided by the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee.
• United States Department of Agriculture: Research information and publication instructions for groundwater contamination.
• University of California at Davis: Groundwater Quality and Groundwater Pollution: Publication as provided by the University of California at Davis on the quality and pollution of groundwater.
• University of Delaware: Sources of Groundwater Contamination: Publication on the sources of groundwater contamination in Delaware.

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