Questions and Answers
What percentage of the rural population in the U.S. relies on groundwater for its needs?
Why is groundwater more vulnerable to environmental issues?
What is a major source of groundwater pollution in agriculture?
What is a health risk associated with nitrates in drinking water?
Signup and view all the answers
What can happen to aquifers if groundwater is pumped out too quickly?
Signup and view all the answers
What is another way groundwater can be polluted?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a large-scale use of groundwater besides drinking water?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to the groundwater that is withdrawn from the aquifer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main reason why we should not overdraw groundwater?
Signup and view all the answers
What can happen to an aquifer when saltwater intrudes into it?
Signup and view all the answers
What is subsidence caused by?
Signup and view all the answers
What can be the effects of subsidence on a city?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is it important to refill aquifers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the best way to ensure that we do not run out of groundwater?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the comparison made between the world's aquifers and?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Groundwater Vulnerability
- Groundwater is a vital natural resource, providing drinking water, household uses, crop irrigation, and more to over 1/3 of Earth's population, including 99% of the rural population in the U.S.
- Despite its importance, groundwater is vulnerable to environmental issues due to its underground location, making it difficult to access for testing, regulating, and cleaning.
Groundwater Pollution
- Groundwater pollution occurs when harmful substances enter the soil and are carried into aquifers by rainfall.
- Agriculture is a significant contributor to groundwater pollution through the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
- Nitrates from fertilizers have been linked to various cancers, miscarriages, and birth defects in drinking water.
- Manufacturing industries also pollute groundwater through the improper disposal of toxic chemicals.
- Underground storage tanks, such as septic tanks, can leak sewage waste, oil, and toxic chemicals into the ground.
Overdrawing Groundwater
- Groundwater can be depleted faster than surface water because aquifers take a long time to refill.
- The rapid removal of groundwater for drinking water and agricultural irrigation can lead to depletion.
- Overdrawing groundwater can cause saltwater intrusion into aquifers along coastal areas, making them undrinkable.
- The concept of groundwater depletion can be likened to a bank account, where withdrawals exceed deposits, leading to a dwindling balance.
Subsidence
- Overdrawing groundwater leads to subsidence, or the sinking of the ground, as the space below is left unfilled.
- Subsidence can occur suddenly, creating sinkholes, or over a large area, such as a city.
- Mexico City, for example, has sunk over 33 feet due to subsidence, resulting in buckled streets, tilting buildings, and broken underground pipes.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about the importance of groundwater, its uses, and the environmental issues it faces. Discover how it's vulnerable despite being underground.