If the contaminants leak out and get into the groundwater, serious contamination can occur. Onsite wastewater disposal systems used by homes, offices or other buildings that are not connected to a city sewer system. Septic systems are designed to slowly drain away human waste underground at a slow, harmless rate. An improperly designed, located, constructed, or maintained septic system can leak bacteria, viruses, household chemicals, and other contaminants into the groundwater causing serious problems.
In the U. Hazardous waste sites can lead to groundwater contamination if there are barrels or other containers laying around that are full of hazardous materials. If there is a leak, these contaminants can eventually make their way down through the soil and into the groundwater.
Landfills are the places that our garbage is taken to be buried. Landfills are supposed to have a protective bottom layer to prevent contaminants from getting into the water. For instance, you can reduce your use of chemicals in your yard and home, which should reduce the likelihood that your local groundwater becomes contaminated. You should also correctly dispose of motor oil, unused chemicals, paint, and similar substances that could be deemed hazardous. Make sure that you regularly check all of your toilets and faucets for leaks.
If you identify any, they should be fixed immediately. Some additional steps that you can take to prevent groundwater contamination include reducing the length of your shower to five minutes, reusing and recycling anything that you can, and using natural alternatives to household chemicals.
These alternatives include lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda, all of which are friendly to the environment. While these prevention methods have their limits, anything that you can do to lessen the likelihood of groundwater contamination is a good thing.
There are several federal laws and regulations that have been created to help protect groundwater. These regulations have been instrumental in improving the quality of groundwater throughout the U.
Using water wisely and recycling materials like plastic, cardboard, and paper can be highly beneficial towards maintaining groundwater quality. At Sensorex, we offer many fantastic water sensors that can help you determine if the groundwater is contaminated, which included pH sensors, conductivity sensors, and dissolved oxygen sensors.
For instance, the S PH sensor can be used in demanding applications and can determine if the groundwater has become too acidic. These sensors can give you peace of mind that your water is safe to use and drink.
Contact Sensorex today if you have any questions about the sensors that we provide. Previous Next. View Larger Image.
Decreases incidence of tooth decay but high levels can stain or mottle teeth. Causes crippling bone disorder calcification of the bones and joints at very high levels. Hardness Result of metallic ions dissolved in the water; reported as concentration of calcium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate is derived from dissolved limestone or discharges from operating or abandoned mines. Decreases the lather formation of soap and increases scale formation in hot-water heaters and low-pressure boilers at high levels. Iron Occurs naturally as a mineral from sediment and rocks or from mining, industrial waste, and corroding metal. Imparts a bitter astringent taste to water and a brownish color to laundered clothing and plumbing fixtures.
Lead Enters environment from industry, mining, plumbing, gasoline, coal, and as a water additive. Affects red blood cell chemistry; delays normal physical and mental development in babies and young children.
Causes slight deficits in attention span, hearing, and learning in children. Can cause slight increase in blood pressure in some adults. Probable carcinogen. Manganese Occurs naturally as a mineral from sediment and rocks or from mining and industrial waste. Causes aesthetic and economic damage, and imparts brownish stains to laundry. Affects taste of water, and causes dark brown or black stains on plumbing fixtures. Relatively non-toxic to animals but toxic to plants at high levels.
Mercury Occurs as an inorganic salt and as organic mercury compounds. Enters the environment from industrial waste, mining, pesticides, coal, electrical equipment batteries, lamps, switches , smelting, and fossil-fuel combustion.
Causes acute and chronic toxicity. Targets the kidneys and can cause nervous system disorders. Nickel Occurs naturally in soils, groundwater, and surface water.
Often used in electroplating, stainless steel and alloy products, mining, and refining. Damages the heart and liver of laboratory animals exposed to large amounts over their lifetime. Nitrate as nitrogen Occurs naturally in mineral deposits, soils, seawater, freshwater systems, the atmosphere, and biota. More stable form of combined nitrogen in oxygenated water. Found in the highest levels in groundwater under extensively developed areas. Enters the environment from fertilizer, feedlots, and sewage.
Toxicity results from the body's natural breakdown of nitrate to nitrite. Causes "bluebaby disease," or methemoglobinemia, which threatens oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Selenium Enters environment from naturally occurring geologic sources, sulfur, and coal. Causes acute and chronic toxic effects in animals--"blind staggers" in cattle. Nutritionally essential element at low doses but toxic at high doses.
Silver Enters environment from ore mining and processing, product fabrication, and disposal. Often used in photography, electric and electronic equipment, sterling and electroplating, alloy, and solder.
Because of great economic value of silver, recovery practices are typically used to minimize loss. Can cause argyria, a blue-gray coloration of the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, and organs in humans and animals with chronic exposure. Sodium Derived geologically from leaching of surface and underground deposits of salt and decomposition of various minerals. Human activities contribute through de-icing and washing products. Can be a health risk factor for those individuals on a low-sodium diet.
Sulfate Elevated concentrations may result from saltwater intrusion, mineral dissolution, and domestic or industrial waste. Forms hard scales on boilers and heat exchangers; can change the taste of water, and has a laxative effect in high doses.
Thallium Enters environment from soils; used in electronics, pharmaceuticals manufacturing, glass, and alloys. Damages kidneys, liver, brain, and intestines in laboratory animals when given in high doses over their lifetime.
Zinc Found naturally in water, most frequently in areas where it is mined. Enters environment from industrial waste, metal plating, and plumbing, and is a major component of sludge. Aids in the healing of wounds. Causes no ill health effects except in very high doses. Imparts an undesirable taste to water. Toxic to plants at high levels. Organic contaminants found in groundwater Contaminant Sources to groundwater Potential health and other effects Volatile organic compounds Enter environment when used to make plastics, dyes, rubbers, polishes, solvents, crude oil, insecticides, inks, varnishes, paints, disinfectants, gasoline products, pharmaceuticals, preservatives, spot removers, paint removers, degreasers, and many more.
Can cause cancer and liver damage, anemia, gastrointestinal disorder, skin irritation, blurred vision, exhaustion, weight loss, damage to the nervous system, and respiratory tract irritation. Pesticides Enter environment as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and algicides. Cause poisoning, headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbance, numbness, weakness, and cancer. Destroys nervous system, thyroid, reproductive system, liver, and kidneys.
The only option is to wait for the chemicals to be washed off from rain or irrigation—which eventually makes its way through soil and into groundwater. Septic systems, which house human waste outside of the sewage system, are typically designed with safety features in place. However, when these features fail, wastewater seeps directly into soil—and then makes its way to the water table. On farms, or other areas with a high concentration of free-roaming animals, high levels of untreated animal waste can threaten groundwater as well.
Similar to septic systems, landfills are typically designed with a safety feature in place to keep hazardous materials from seeping into the soil. In the U. Our world runs on the hydrologic cycle. As such, if one part of the cycle is polluted—like the atmosphere—then that could potentially spread to groundwater sources as well.
As we mentioned above, excreted pharmaceuticals from both humans and livestock can make their way through sewage treatment plants and back into the ecosystem. Even unused medications that have been improperly disposed of—such as being flushed down the toilet—pose a threat of becoming part of the hydrologic cycle.
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