There are several different types of groundwatergroundwatergroundwater, ranging from water which flows freely through the ground and interacts with surface water to closed aquifers, which are theoretically very hard to contaminate. GroundwaterGroundwaterGroundwater becomes polluted when materials seep through the soil and reach the water, which can happen when rainfall washes contaminants into the ground, when polluted surface water connects with groundwatergroundwatergroundwater, and when buried tanks or waste disposal sites start to leach.Any number of contaminants can end up groundwatergroundwatergroundwater, including sewage, prescription medications, agricultural chemicals, microorganisms, road salt, landfill seepage, petroleum products, chemicals, and hazardous waste such as nuclear waste. These contaminants make the water unsafe to drink, because they can cause severe health problems. The water may also be unsafe for use in agriculture or manufacturing, and it can cause issues for local wildlife and flora exposed to the contaminated water.People usually identify groundwatergroundwatergroundwater pollution when people start getting sick while drinking it, or when routine testing of water supplies reveals contamination. People with wells are at a high risk of getting sick from polluted water, because plumes of contaminants can end up in some surprising places, and people who drink municipal water are also at risk, because groundwatergroundwatergroundwater supplies may be one of the sources used by a municipality to supply the water needs of the populace.Once discovered, groundwatergroundwatergroundwater pollution needs to be addressed, both to clean the contaminated water and to prevent its spread. Finding the source of the contamination and cleaning it up or containing it is important, as is cleaning the water to make it safe for use. In cases where the water cannot be cleaned, it will be necessary to contain it so that the contaminants cannot form a plume in the soil and reach clean water supplies. Alternative supplies of water may need to be secured to meet water needs while the pollution is dealt with....
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