28-11-2012, 12:18 PM
Ground water crisis and Remedies
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Groundwater is stored in--and moves slowly through--layers of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers.
Aquifers typically consist of gravel, sand, sandstone, or fractured rock, like limestone.
These materials are permeable because they have large connected spaces that allow water to flow through.
The speed at which groundwater flows depends on the size of the spaces in the soil or rock and how well the spaces are connected
Sources of Groundwater Contamination
Groundwater contamination occurs when man-made products such as fuel, oil, and chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to become unsafe and unfit for human use.
Some of the major sources of these products, called contaminants, are storage tanks, septic systems, hazardous waste sites, landfills, and the widespread use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals.
Contaminants in other parts of the cycle, such as the atmosphere or bodies of surface water, can eventually be transferred into our groundwater supplies