Groundwater contamination is nearly always the result of human activity. In areas where population density is high and human use of the land is intensive, ground water is especially vulnerable. Virtually any activity whereby chemicals or wastes may be released to the environment, either intentionally or accidentally, has the potential to pollute ground water. When ground water becomes contaminated, it is difficult and expensive to clean up.
Watch the videos below and answer the questions that follow.
- What major contaminants are associated with these different sources of groundwater contamination?
- Why is that groundwater, once contaminated, is often very difficult to cleanup?
Provide examples of "point sources", "line sources", and "areal sources" of contamination.