Groundwater Pollution Natural vs. Manmade Point Source vs. Nonpoint Source

1. Groundwater PollutionNatural vs. ManmadePoint Source vs. Nonpoint Source

2. Groundwater Pollution • Groundwater pollution occurs when hazardous substances come into contact and dissolve in the water. • There is both natural and manmade pollution. • More focus is put on manmade pollution because it is unnatural. It makes up 65% of total pollutants.

3. Groundwater Pollution Pollution can be from a specific source(s) which can be identified (point source) or from a wide variety of sources, which cannot be directly identified point source (nonpoint source)

4. Examples of Groundwater Pollutants • Salt water intrusion • Movement of saline water into areas of freshwater near coasts and beaches • Dam Removal • When a dam becomes obsolete, it is removed in order to try and reclaim the environment in the areas surrounding it • When the dam is removed, land downstream is flooded, any chemicals or pollutants trapped behind the dam are released, and any stream banks are destroyed because a new floodplain is being created

5. Examples of Groundwater Pollutants • Groundwater Depletion • Over pumping will remove all water from the ground except for the UPM • Subsidence • Areas become so fragile under the surface of the earth that large caverns and caves will be eroded out • When too much weight is then put on the surface, of top of the ceilings of these areas, the ceilings can collapse and form sinkholes

6. Examples of Groundwater Pollutants • Floods • This is an overflow of water from either river or stream banks. • Floods will then pick up materials that are found along the banks and cause physical damage • Arsenic • Arsenic can be introduced naturally through the leeching of rocks or unnaturally by industries • It is a carcinogen that can cause cancer and diabetes when introduced to the drinking supply

7. Examples of Groundwater Pollutants • Wetlands and Estuaries Destruction • Wetlands and estuaries can be destroyed when large amounts of algae blooms lower the amount of oxygen in the water, and thus causes fish and other animals in the water to die