Groundwater contamination

Groundwater contamination is the presence of harmful substances in underground water at concentrations that can affect human health or ecosystems.

Contaminant transport: The movement of chemical or biological pollutants through air, water, soil, or living systems. It describes how contaminants travel with groundwater through aquifers.
Septic system: An on-site wastewater treatment system that collects sewage in a tank and disperses effluent into soil. Poorly maintained systems can release pathogens and nutrients into groundwater.
Groundwater monitoring: The systematic measurement of groundwater levels and properties over time. Sampling wells reveals contaminant concentrations and tracks plume changes.
Drinking water: Water intended for human consumption, including water supplied from wells or public systems. Contaminated aquifers can expose people through private wells or water supplies.
Non-aqueous phase liquid: A liquid contaminant that remains separate from water rather than dissolving completely. Residual droplets can persist underground and slowly replenish dissolved contaminant plumes.
Leaching: The removal and downward movement of soluble substances through soil by percolating water. Rainwater can leach pollutants from the land surface into groundwater.
Landfill leachate: Liquid that drains through waste in a landfill and carries dissolved or suspended substances. Leachate can migrate from an unlined or leaking landfill into an aquifer.
Environmental site assessment: An investigation of a property to identify actual or potential environmental contamination. Site assessments locate possible sources before land is developed or transferred.
Nitrate in groundwater: Nitrate dissolved in groundwater, commonly associated with fertilizers, manure, and wastewater. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause serious health effects, especially in infants.
Groundwater age: The time elapsed since groundwater was last in contact with the atmosphere at the land surface. Water age helps estimate how long pollutants may take to reach wells or discharge points.

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