Groundwater Topic 1053

Uses, System Components

And Contamination

Mr.Christensen

Groundwater Lesson Objectives

Define groundwater,its importance, the parts of a groundwater system

Compare movement of water through gravel, sand, clay and fractured rock

GROUNDWATER LESSON OBJECTIVES (Cont.)

Relate land use to potential groundwater contamination

Define point and non-point pollution

Groundwater Usage

99% of drinking water for the rural population

37% OF AGRICULTURAL USE (largest user)

37% of public water supply WITHDRAWALS

22% of all freshwater WITHDRAWALS

Groundwater

From: Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin WQ 35 What is Groundwater

HYDROGEN ION CONCENTATION (Ph)

Environment Canada Website:www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/kids.html/

Permeability Versus Porosity

From: Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin WQ 35 What is Groundwater

Unconfined Versus Confined ACQUIFERS

ARTERIAN WELLCONFINED ACQUIFER

UNCONFINED WATER TABLE ACQUIFER

From: Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin WQ 35 What is Groundwater

GroundwaterIssues

Overdraft (withdrawing more water than is being naturally replenished)

Unnatural contamination

Pollution Sources

From the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality website athttp://www.deq.state.or.us/wa/wqfact/DrinkingWaterGroundWaterBasics.pdf

Point Source NONPOINT Source Pollution

Municipal sewage treatment

Industrial discharge Leaking

underground tank(s) Feedlot and manure

storage Storm water

discharge

Storm water discharge Atmospheric contaminates (acid

rain) Leakage from waste disposal sites Leaching of agricultural chemicals Sludge Septic systems Leaking land fills Marine sources Land use (loss of wetlands) Abandoned mine discharge

Limiting Groundwater Contamination

Federal water pollution control act (clean water act) of 1972 as amended (administered by environmental protection agency (EPA) required monitoring of discharge)

The EPA was ESTABLISHED in 1970 to protect human health and safeguard the environment

Michigan Ground Water Stewardship Program (GWSP)

HOME a-Syst/farm a-Syst—evaluation of risks and potential for groundwater pollution (free)

Clean sweep--end-user disposal of unwanted/banned pesticides($5)

GWSP

Drinking water screening—for nitrates, nitrites and triazine pesticides (free)

Abandoned well closure (MGSP pays 90%)

Pesticide container recycling (free)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Provides technical, financial and educational assistance to farmers and ranchers to address significant natural resource concerns and objectives

Examples: grassed waterways, fuel containment facility, sediment basin, stream bank and shoreline protection

What We Learned Today

Defined groundwater, its uses, system components, and flow through different substrates

Reviewed point and non-point pollution sources and their potential to contaminate groundwater

Agencies and programs designed to protect groundwater