Salt Water Intrusion and its Threat to North Carolina By Drew Thorndyke
Salt Water Intrusion Displacement of freshwater by salt water as a result of excess pumping in coastal areas.
Saltwater intrudes in two main ways Lateral Encroachment Vertical Upconing
Lateral Encroachment
Vertical Upconing
Why does saltwater intrusion occur? Drop in groundwater level Development, population growth Ghyben Herzburg Sea level rise Thermal expansion
Where in North Carolina has saltwater intrusion occurred Cape Hatteras Island Pitt County Pender County New Hanover County Brunswick County
What can we do to prevent saltwater intrusion Conservation of ground water Other sources Personal effort Reusing water Groundwater recharge Monitoring
The Key to Controlling Saltwater Intrusion Maintaining a healthy aquifer by balancing the amount of water being pumped out with the amount put back in