1. Groundwater Contamination
Gary Johnson

2. What is Groundwater?
water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers.

3. Why is Groundwater important?
Supplies drinking water for 50% of U.S. population, 99% in rural areas
99% of accessible drinking water is G.W.
64% of water used for irrigation is G.W.
Source of recharge for rivers, lakes, and wetlands

4. Sources of G.W. Contamination
Landfills
Septic Tanks
Storage Tanks (gas, oil, chemicals, etc.)
Chemicals and Road Salts
Hazardous Waste (acid mine drainage, nuclear wastewater, fracking wastewater, etc.)

5. Consequences Disease Poisoning Crop contamination
Long term exposure shown to cause certain types of cancer

6. Policy
The Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) – Only protected public water systems that regularly supplies piped water to 15 or more connections or to 25 or more individuals at least 60 days a year.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (aka Superfund) - government program to remediate sites of hazardous waste. 1,322 sites on National Priority List, yet 30% budget cut is proposed.

8. G.W. Remediation Methods
Biological
Chemical
Physical
All methods are extremely expensive and time consuming

9. Discussion Questions
What are efficient methods to limit groundwater contamination?
How could an individual reduce their contribution to water contamination?
Which remediation method should be utilized and why? (biological, chemical, physical)
Why do you think water contamination is often disregarded? (cost, image, lack of knowledge etc.)

10. Work Cited http://science.sciencemag.org/content/221/4612/713
08/documents/mgwc-gwc1.pdf