Groundwater Importance and Vulnerability

What percentage of the Earth's population relies on groundwater for its needs?

Why is groundwater more vulnerable to environmental issues?

What is the primary source of groundwater pollution?

What is the effect of nitrates in drinking water?

How does pollution from the ground get into groundwater?

What is another way that groundwater can move?

What percentage of the rural population in the U.S. relies on groundwater for its needs?

What happens to the groundwater when it's pumped out for agricultural irrigation?

What is the consequence of over-drawing groundwater along coastal areas?

What is the process called when the ground sinks down to fill the space below?

What is the best way to describe the relationship between groundwater withdrawal and deposition?

What is the result of the ground sinking down to fill the space below in Mexico City?

What is the consequence of underground storage tanks leaking into the ground?

Why is it a problem to overdraw groundwater?

What can happen to the land around the groundwater when it's removed too quickly?

Groundwater Vulnerability

Groundwater is a vital natural resource, providing over 1/3 of the Earth's population with water for drinking, household uses, irrigation, and more.
99% of the rural population in the U.S. relies on groundwater for their needs.

Pollution of Groundwater

Groundwater pollution occurs when harmful substances enter the soil and are carried into aquifers by rainwater.
Agriculture is a major contributor to groundwater pollution, with fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides contaminating the soil.
Nitrates from fertilizers are particularly dangerous in drinking water, linked to cancers, miscarriages, and birth defects.
Manufacturing industries also pollute groundwater, releasing toxic chemicals into the soil.
Underground storage tanks can leak sewage waste, oil, and toxic chemicals into the ground.

Overdrawing Groundwater

Groundwater can be depleted faster than surface water, as aquifers take a long time to refill.
Groundwater is pumped from wells for drinking water and large-scale uses like agricultural irrigation.
The rapid removal of groundwater without adequate replenishment can lead to depletion.
Overdrawing groundwater can cause saltwater to intrude into aquifers along coastal areas, making them unsuitable for drinking water.

Consequences of Overdrawing Groundwater

Subsidence occurs when the ground sinks to fill the space created by the removal of groundwater.
Subsidence can cause sudden small holes or sinkholes, or affect large areas like cities.
Mexico City has sunk over 33 feet due to subsidence, resulting in buckled streets, tilted buildings, and broken underground pipes.

Learn about the importance of groundwater as a natural resource, its uses, and the environmental issues that affect it. Discover how it provides drinking water, supports agriculture, and meets other needs.