The Main Sources of Groundwater Pollution
In today's technologically driven world, groundwater pollution results from many different sources. It may be hard to believe groundwater pollution is one of the most concerning pollution types experienced in the United States. Groundwater pollution can negatively impact many municipal services, such as wells and other public water filtration operations. As such, it's of the utmost importance in many major cities to limit the amount of groundwater pollution they experience per year. One of the best ways to limit the pollution you experience is by knowing the most common sources of such contamination. Read on to learn more about the main sources of groundwater pollution.
Storage Tanks
Storage tanks containing different types of hazardous materials, such as gasoline, butane, and forms of natural gas, are common contaminants to the groundwater source when these tanks are not kept up to code to adequately store such liquids. They will often crack and leak under the stresses of nature. When this happens, these toxic liquids can leak down into the groundwater supply and spread throughout the surrounding area. When this happens, local vegetation and wildlife will suffer if the contaminant is strong enough. If this happens, you must call your city immediately to report it so that a cleanup crew may come in and take care of the spill and contamination. They will take steps to ensure the pollutants are gone and the surrounding area is clear of any remaining pollutants. This may take some time for them to monitor, but be sure it is clear to ensure your safety!
Septic Systems
Another common source of groundwater pollution is septic systems attached to houses and businesses. Septic systems are typically buried underground, which makes it hard to detect any sort of leaks that may occur within the septic tank. Furthermore, these tanks are often encased in a thick layer of concrete, making it hard to detect leaks without excavating the tank. Septic systems can leak human waste into the surrounding groundwater, which is difficult to treat. In most cases, you may want to invest in a robust water filtration system if you are concerned about septic system contamination around your house. This is one of the only ways you can defend yourself from any septic system contamination.
Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste
Another common source of groundwater pollution is uncontrolled hazardous waste. This phrase is a nice way of saying any random waste dropped off by someone who is not part of a business. This can include anything from lead paint-coated automobile parts to cracked, leaking batteries draining into the groundwater supply. Common waste dumped on the side of the road taints groundwater, but this happens to be a very avoidable source of groundwater pollution.
Landfills
Another one of the main sources of groundwater pollution is landfills. Landfills are among the biggest contributors to groundwater pollution because landfills are underground and interact with groundwater more easily than other contaminants. While most landfills are designed to be away from any groundwater sources, they are sometimes constructed in the middle of groundwater collection points. This can cause major issues as landfills can leak toxic chemicals and minerals that can poison the surrounding water supply in the ecosystem.
Fortunately, these pollutants are caught before they can do any major damage because it is easy to notice when chemicals leak into the groundwater supply.
Lawncare Chemicals
One surprising source of groundwater pollution is lawn care chemicals. Ever since the conception of fertilizers and plant care products, the rate at which these chemicals have been poisoning the groundwater supply has risen exponentially. While you may not typically conflate lawn care chemicals with groundwater runoff that can harm plants and animals, it is certainly something to keep in mind when designing and caring for your backyard. To minimize the amount of chemically induced runoff into the groundwater supply, ensure you only use these chemicals in areas with good drainage and lots of water exposure. This will help water down any contaminants that may be present in the area while allowing them to travel further away from the areas where they were first introduced. This will help minimize the effect of the pollutants by allowing them to become watered down and spread out over a large area, minimizing their effect.
Atmospheric Contaminants
One of the most well-known groundwater pollutants is atmospheric contaminants. These include phenomena such as acid rain, which can induce the large-scale death of plants and animals in a particular area. When an area is subjected to repeated exposure to certain chemicals, noxious fumes, and other pollutants, that area may experience disruptions in the atmospheric quality. One of the best examples of this is afternoon traffic in any major city. During specific times in any metro area, there are more pollutants in the air than at other times, causing the surrounding plant and animal life to experience a brief spike in toxins. This can cause many different wildlife species to come out at different times of the day, leading to multiple ecosystems coexisting in the same places.
Automobile-Related Contaminants
The last source of groundwater pollution that many are exposed to is automobile-related contaminants. Besides noxious fumes, automobiles leak a fair amount of oil onto the ground. During precipitation, this residue may get washed off into the gutter or roadside and enter the groundwater. While there is no easy way to prevent this, getting your automobile checked regularly to prevent any leaks is a great way to ensure your car does not contribute to any sort of groundwater pollution.
We hope you have enjoyed our recap of the main sources of groundwater pollution you may encounter. While it may be hard to solve this issue, it is certainly easier to prevent it by taking any preventative actions necessary. You can significantly help the environment by abstaining from using harmful chemicals that leak into the groundwater supply. If you are concerned with the quality of your water and need an under-sink water filtration unit to prevent any groundwater contamination from affecting you, be sure to reach out to Premier H2O today.
