Group 8

Groundwater
Contamination
WHAT IS GROUNDWATER
CONTAMINATION?
• Groundwater is one of the most important sources

of water for irrigation. Unfortunately, groundwater is

susceptible to pollutants.

• Groundwater contamination occurs when man-

made products such as gasoline, oil, road salts and

chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to

become unsafe and unfit for human use.

• Materials from the land's surface can move through

the soil and end up in the groundwater.

 1 Sediments

2 Fecal Coliform

3 Chemicals

THREE MOST COMMON

CONTAMINANTS OF
GROUNDWATER
SEDIMENTS

These are materials found

at the bottom of a water

body. Sediments may

include clay, silt, sand,

gravel, decaying organic

matter, and shells.

FECAL COLIFORM
It is a facultatively

anaerobic, rod-shaped,

gram-negative, non-

sporulating bacterium.

Coliform bacteria generally

originate in the intestines

of warm-blooded animals.
CHEMICALS
It is the principal natural

chemicals found in

groundwater, contains of

dissolved salts, iron and

manganese, fluoride,

arsenic, radionuclides, and

trace metals.
CAUSES

1. NATURAL SOURCES
- Naturally occurring substance s f ou nd i n t he soil s and rocks such as sul f ate s,
iron, radionucli des, fluori des, e tc. , can be di s sol ve d in wate r causing
contamination.

2. SEPTIC SYSTEMS
- Across the world, sept i c syste ms are the mai n cause of po l l ution of unde rgro und
water. Improperly desi gne d and leaki ng s e pti c syste ms re le ase contaminants such
as nitrates, oi ls, bacteri a, che mi cals , de te rge nts, and viruse s into unde rgro und
water.

3. HAZARDOUS WASTE DIS POSAL

- Hazardous wastes such as phot ographi c che mical s, motor oil , cooking oil , paint
thinners, medi cines, swi mmi ng pool c he mi cals , paints, and garde n che mical s
should not be di sposed i nt o s e pti c tanks or di re ctly into the e nvironme nt as the y
cause serious contami nati on.
4. PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
- The chemicals spilled from Petroleum products become diluted with water
and seep into the ground and may cause groundwater contamination.

5. SOLID WASTE
- The chemicals from these wastes are leached into the groundwater through
precipitation and surface runoff.

6. SURFACE IMPOUNDMENTS
- These are shallow lagoons used to store liquid wastes. Impoundments are
required to have clay liners or leachates to prevent leaching.

7. AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS
- Excessive use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides can lead to
contamination of groundwater.
8. INJECTION WELLS
- They have various uses ranging from collection or stormwater to disposal
of industrial and commercial effluents. When not properly regulated,
hazardous chemicals can be disposed of from injection wells.

9. OTHER CAUSES
- Abandoned wells and/or poorly constructed wells can act as a pathway
for contaminants to reach the aquifers and wells that lacks in proper
casing and covers may cause groundwater contamination that is
pollutants find their way into such wells.
- Mining activities where through precipitation the soluble minerals can be
leached from the sites to the groundwater.
 NOTE :

DANGERS OF CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER

Drinking contaminated groundwater can have serious health effects. Other

long term effects such as certain types of cancer may also result from

exposure to polluted water.

EFFECTS

 Contaminated

groundwater has

detrimental effects on

health. These leads to

HEALTH ISSUES
severe diarrhea,

dehydration, hepatitis,

poisoning, and in some

cases death.
 Contamination of

groundwater sources renders

the area incapable of

AFFECTS

sustaining plant, human, and

animal life. The population in

ECONOMIC the area reduces and the

GROWTH land value depreciates.

Another effect is that it leads

to less stability in industries

relying on groundwater to

produce their goods.

 When the pollutants mix with

water bodies, alteration of

the aquatic ecosystem may

Can lead to damaging

also occur. Toxic substances
impacts on the
accumulate with time in the
environment such as
aquatic systems and aquifers and once the prime

the overall ecosystem spreads it may render the

groundwater unsuitable for

human and animal

consumption.
 FEDERAL LAWS ON
GROUNDWATER POLLUTION
- The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

(Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the

country’s water bodies from pollution from

land-based sources (industries and

commercial establishments, agriculture and

community/household activities). It provides

for a comprehensive and integrated strategy

CLEAN WATER ACT to prevent and minimize pollution through a

multi-sectoral and participatory approach

involving all the stakeholders.

SOLUTIONS

1. LEGISLATION
- Safe Drinking and Clean Water regulations should ensure the protection of
drinking water by establishing measures for them to meet health standards.

2. THE USE OF WATER CLEANING SYSTEMS

- Point-of-use treatment systems should be installed in outlets that dispense
water for human consumption. The techniques used include chemical
disinfection, boiling, solar distillation, and filtration.
- Arsenic Removal Filters (ARFs) are usually installed to remove arsenic
compounds present.
- Groundwater Remediation is also another management technique. The
biological treatment techniques employed are bioaugmentation,
bioslurping, bioventing, etc. Chemicals techniques such as ion exchange
and ozone gas injection can also be used.
3. PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE SOURCE OF POLLUTION
- The landfills should be designed with proper clay and leachates.
- Any hazardous wastes should not be dumped in the landfill unless it is
designed for that purpose.
- In constructing and managing underground storage tanks, it is important
to comply with the set regulations and policies to avoid contamination or
even lawsuits.
- Inspections on underground pipelines should be done regularly and causes
of corrosion or leakages noted should be resolved immediately.

4. RECYCLING
- Most landfills in various countries have a recycling plant nearby. Apart
from oil, other recyclable materials such as plastic, bottle, and paper
wastes can also be taken to recycling plants.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE
GROUNDWATER POLLUTION?
 -Properly dispose of all waste; don’t

dump chemicals down drains or on

the ground.

-Test underground fuel oil tanks for

AT HOME leaks; if possible, replace them above

ground.

-Safely store all chemicals and fuels.

-Minimize the use of chemicals;

always use according to directions.

-Have on-site septic systems pumped

and inspected every five years.

- Examine on-site wells and

surrounding land areas; test wells as

often as pollution risk demands.

 1. Waste disposal:

-Properly dispose of all waste.

-Ensure proper waste water discharge

connections; if possible, eliminate floor drains.

-Properly use and maintain on-site septic systems.

-plug and cover waste dumpsters.

AT WORK 2. Hazardous materials:

-Safely store, handle, and use chemicals and

fuels.

-Monitor underground fuel and chemical tanks; if

possible, replace above ground.

-Contain storage and loading areas.

-Reduce or substitute use of chemicals

3. Storm water:

-Keep chemicals and waste safe from rain.

-Isolate drains from storage and loading areas

-Use deicing salt and pesticides sparingly.

4. Other good management practices:

-Conduct an environmental audit.

-Develop a pollution prevention plan.

-Regularly inspect high risk areas.

-Devise an emergency response plan.

 -Ensure that land use plans and

regulations protect important water

supply aquifers and well fields.

-Support protection legislation and

IN TOWN programs.

-Inform and educate residents and

businesses about groundwater.

-Consider important aquifers when

acquiring open space

-Monitor and inspect important well

fields and recharge areas

-Conduct household hazardous waste

collections

-Ensure that town facilities practice

good pollution prevention

 REFERENCES
https://www.groundwater.org/get-

informed/groundwater/contamination.html

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Aquifer-Protection-and-

Groundwater/Ground-Water/Understanding-Ground-

Water/What-we-can-all-do-to-reduce-groundwater-pollution

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-

solutions-groundwater-pollution.php

[Arizona Cooperative extension / The University of Arizona

(College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) Arizona.edu]