The Growing Threat of Groundwater Contamination On Your Health
The water coming from your tap is supposed to be clean, safe, and healthy to drink. But is that always the case? With increasing pollution from industrial chemicals, agricultural fertilizers, and wastewater, the underground sources that supply much of the nation’s drinking water are increasingly at risk of contamination. Billions of gallons of water flow beneath our feet through layers of soil, sand, and rock in vast aquifers.
Yet what happens unseen below the surface can directly impact the water that ends up in our homes.
As more toxins seep into precious groundwater reserves, the hidden threats are rising. Many communities are discovering their water is far from pristine. In this article, we delve into the growing crisis of groundwater contamination and examine the risks to public health.
What Is Groundwater Contamination?
Exploring the issue of groundwater contamination unveils a paradox: despite our planet being predominantly covered by water, a mere 2.5% of it is freshwater, with an even slimmer 0.008% available on the surface.
Groundwater, residing in underground aquifers and constituting 0.750% of Earth’s water, stands out as a crucial reservoir for freshwater needs. This hidden resource becomes vulnerable when pollutants like pesticides or gasoline infiltrate, making it unsuitable for human use.
The journey of contamination begins on the land’s surface, where materials gradually seep through the soil into the groundwater. Pesticides, fertilizers, road salt, and even used motor oil embark on this unintended path. It’s a route paved not only by industrial activities but also by everyday human actions.
Sources of Groundwater Pollution
Let us uncover possible sources that can accuse groundwater contamination:
Inherent Groundwater Influences
Groundwater contamination doesn’t always originate from human activities. Naturally occurring elements in rocks and soils, such as arsenic, iron, chlorides, sulfates, fluoride, and radionuclides, can dissolve and mix with groundwater. Moreover, substances like decomposing organic matter, which are found naturally, can be carried as particles within the groundwater.
Agricultural Impact on Groundwater
Agriculture plays a substantial role in the contamination of groundwater. The use of slurry, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides introduces contaminants such as nitrates and bacteria into subterranean water reservoirs.
These enduring pollutants can lead to significant consequences for plants, animals, and human consumers. Some, such as Atrazine, are linked to congenital disabilities, cancer, and reduced sperm counts.
Waste Flow in Sewers and Pipelines
Leaks from sewer pipes carrying waste fluids can introduce a mix of organic matter, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and nitrogen into the soil and groundwater. The improper design or maintenance of septic systems may also lead to contaminant leaks.
Additionally, pipelines transporting industrial chemicals and oil-brine are susceptible to leaks, particularly when handling corrosive materials.
Careless Disposal of Hazardous Waste
How waste materials, such as cooking oils, motor oils, chemicals, paints, and medicines, are disposed of significantly impacts groundwater quality. Inadequate disposal into drains or wells allows these substances to infiltrate groundwater, posing health risks.
The mishandling of industrial chemicals raises concerns about potential contamination of drinking water sources.
Ramifications of Natural Gas Extraction
The process of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” involves combining chemicals with water during natural gas drilling, potentially contaminating groundwater. Instances of methane seeping into water sources have raised concerns about the impact of natural gas drilling on groundwater quality, with reports of abandoned homes due to safety risks.
Mining and Quarrying Consequences
Mining and quarrying activities release pollutants from rocks into surrounding groundwater through leaching. Soluble chemicals, including acid, iron, sulfates, and aluminum, can contaminate groundwater. Historical mining practices involving toxins like lead and arsenic continue to affect groundwater in abandoned mine shafts.
Challenges of Saltwater Intrusion
Over-pumping of aquifers near coastlines can create a vacuum filled with salty seawater, rendering the groundwater undrinkable and unsuitable for irrigation. Coastal communities relying on wells for drinking water face a significant challenge due to the risk of saltwater intrusion.
Landfills and Groundwater Impact
Although landfills are designed to prevent contaminants from leaching into groundwater, a lack of protective layers or cracks in these layers can allow substances such as paint, acid, car batteries, and household cleaners to reach groundwater. Humans and animals both face health concerns from these toxins.
Military Bases and Groundwater Safety
Hazardous pollutants such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and trichloroethylene (TCE) can be found in military sites. Contamination from these sites can seep into groundwater, posing health risks such as nervous system damage, liver and kidney issues, elevated cholesterol, and potential cancer-causing effects.
Influence of Atmospheric Elements
Pollutants released into the atmosphere eventually return to Earth through precipitation, impacting groundwater. Nitrates and sulfates emitted from power plants and factories can lead to acid rain, further affecting groundwater quality by leaching contaminants into water supplies.
Rising Groundwater Contamination Spurs Legal Action
Groundwater contamination has led to many legal disputes over the years. One particularly complex and ongoing case is the Camp Lejeune lawsuit in North Carolina. According to reports, over one million individuals present at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 were potentially exposed to toxic chemicals in the water supply.
In 1982, investigations first uncovered troubling issues. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reported finding specific volatile organic compounds and other toxic chemicals at two of Camp Lejeune’s eight water treatment plants: Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point.
TorHoerman Law says that further research has connected the chemicals to various health problems across all ages. Conditions linked to the contaminated water include various cancers like bladder, breast, and liver cancers.
Other issues involve non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, aplastic anemia, neurological disorders, and many birth defects. Reports also tie the contamination to ovarian cancer, stomach cancer, and other illnesses.
As the lawsuit progressed, a significant development occurred recently. The Eastern District Court of North Carolina assigned four judges to oversee the legal proceedings.
Each judge will manage over 350 separate cases related to Camp Lejeune water contamination. This division of labor signals the case is moving closer to resolution after many years of ongoing disputes and health impacts.
In conclusion, the safety of our drinking water remains a pressing concern, given the escalating threats posed by groundwater contamination. This invisible yet vital resource faces risks from various sources, spanning industrial pollutants, agricultural practices, waste disposal, and natural processes.
From pesticides to leaking pipelines, negligent waste disposal to military base contaminants, multiple avenues compromise groundwater quality.
As communities grapple with the aftermath of compromised water quality and the health effects stemming from such contamination, legal actions and increased awareness highlight the urgency of addressing this growing crisis.
Efforts toward regulation, prevention, and remediation are imperative to safeguard this invaluable resource and ensure access to clean, safe drinking water for present and future generations.
