Groundwater and Pollution

Groundwater and Pollution

Human activities do not have an effect on groundwater pollution.

Groundwater can be contaminated by natural sources.

Human activities such as using pesticides on crops, household chemicals that are poured down a drain and improperly maintained sewage can pollute groundwater.

True/False Pre-Test/Post-Test

Groundwater isclose to Earth’s surface.important part of the water cycle.water from precipitation that seeps into the soil

until it reaches a rock layer that is saturated with water.

one of our most valuable resources.

What is Groundwater?

Water is stored in the spaces between rock. It moves slowly underground at a downward

angle due to gravity and may eventually seep into streams, lakes or the ocean.

Storage

Any underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that holds water and allows it flow to streams, lakes or oceans is an aquifer.

This is a picture of Florida’s Aquifer.

Aquifers

Water can be removed from an aquifer by drilling wells and pumping the out the water.

Pumping a well too fast can cause the water table in an aquifer to drop or the well to dry up completely.

Aquifers

Artesian wells do not require pumps.

Artesian Wells

Precipitation recharges aquifers, but how fast depends on the amount of precipitation as well as the material the water seeps through to get into the aquifer.

Recharging aquifers

Movement of water through an aquifer is determined by the permeability of the material that it is seeping through.

Review diagrams of aquifers at: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwaquifer.html

Aquifers Continued…..

Well water is not always safe to drink without being treated.Water is an excellent solvent and can contain

dissolved chemicals. The soil and rock that water seeps through

is very good at filtering out things like leaves, soil and bugs.Naturally occurring containments are often

present in rocks and sediments, such as iron and manganese.

Groundwater Quality/Pollution

Human activities are the main cause of groundwater pollution and greatly effect water quality.

Review a list of human activities that can cause groundwater pollution at : http://www.lenntech.com/groundwater/pollution-sources.htm#ixzz1xEzw1Gc9

Review some more natural sources at: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwquality.html

Groundwater Quality/Pollution

In the United States 34.9% of water is used for agriculture, 47.9% is used for power plants, 11. 5% for households and businesses and 5.7% is used for industries and mining.

Fresh water is a limited resource because 97% of water on Earth is salt water.

Other Interesting Facts……

http://www.lenntech.com/groundwater/pollution-sources.htm#ixzz1xEzw1Gc9 

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/mearthgw.html Buckley, M.Sc., Don, Zipporah Miller,

M.A.Ed., Michael J. Padilla, Ph.D., Kathryn Thornton, Ph.D., and Michael E. Wysession, Ph.D. "8.1." Interactive Science Florida Course 2, Earth and Space Science. Teacher's Edition ed. Vol. 2. Pearson Education, 2012. 276-287. Print.

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