Ground water pollution is an epidemic, and almost all of the contaminants that reach water sources are caused by the actions or inactions of people. Everything from agricultural sources to industrial sources contributes to the ground water pollution problem. 

Regulation laws have been implemented to help offset the damage that has already been done to the ground water supply. Stricter regulations regarding industrial pollutants as well as residential waste management have been implemented in order to further resolve the contamination problems within the ground water. 

Ground water pollution is such a serious problem because the tainted water puts everyone at risk for potential healthproblems. The level of contamination and the vast variations of the contamination make it nearly impossible to determine the exact potential for health threats.

While some contaminants cause very obvious health problems, many of the pollutants have an unknown effect on the health of the human body. 

The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities for humanity to prevent further ground water pollution. Responsible and ecologically ethical management of household chemicals, including products such as dishwasher detergents and laundry soaps, can drastically help reduce the pollution that can be found in ground water. 

Using environmentally friendly products and protecting the ground’s surface from contact with products that are not environmentally sound is one of the most important steps that the average citizen can take. If each individual put the precautionary steps into place the reduction in ground water pollution would be significant. 

Of course, residential contamination is not the only cause of the pollution of ground water. While industrial regulations help to prevent excessive pollution, the smaller businesses are not monitored as closely. Auto maintenance and repair shops are almost always in constant violation of OSHA standards. 

Because these businesses are smaller they end up not being as closely monitored for pollutant contributions. Antifreeze, waste oil, and deicer can cause significant and dangerous pollution levels in the ground water. The necessary regulations exist but the follow through and enforcement of the regulations are woefully undermined by many of the smaller businesses that are not closely monitored. 

Some of the biggest contributors to the industrial pollution problem include quick stop oil change businesses, small auto mechanic businesses that are in rural areas and run often from the same property as the family home, and traveling auto repair businesses. 

The more public education that reaches the management of these small businesses as well as the average home owner the greater the chances are that we can see a significant reduction in contamination of the ground water within the next ten years. 

While government regulations can continue to pile up and enforcement can improve immensely, what will lower the concentration of pollution in our ground water comes down to education and perhaps even incentives for small businesses.

It takes more effort for a small business, as well as individuals, to dispose of wastes in an environmentally friendly manner that will not continue to contaminate the ground water than it does to simply go about business in the environmentally destructive manner. Incentives may help increase the response necessary for cleaner ground water.

Groundwater, which is the water that remains under the ground and is tapped into to provide drinking water for homes is generally polluted by the activities that occur just above it.

People are the number one cause of groundwater pollution. Having water samples tested regularly is the only way to be sure that the groundwater is not contaminated.

Unfortunately, there are a multitude of potential groundwater pollutants that can seriously contaminate drinking water. Most groundwater pollution happens because of improper disposal, use, or storage of chemicals, pesticides, or substances like car engine oil.

Deicing salts that are used for clearing driveways and pathways can contaminate groundwater. Landfills have been known to cause toxic runoff that infiltrates the groundwater supply and underground tanks for storing gasoline and diesel for petrol stations can develop minor leaks and seep into the ground.

A groundwater supply that is directly over a plot filled with animals, such as a farm environment, can be contaminated with the bacteria from animal waste. The chronic use of chemically based pollutants such as weed killer, insecticides, and antifreeze puts many home groundwater supplies at risk for contamination.

Because there are so many variables that can lead to groundwater pollution it is vital that the state of groundwater health be tested regularly.

Different causes of groundwater pollution have different warning signs. Sometimes these warning signs can be found in the water itself while other times it takes awareness of one’s surroundings to notice a problem. Being aware of potential dangers can help determine a problem should one develop.

When buying or leasing a new property, residents should become familiar with the hazards that are nearby. Is there a landfill in the area or a gas station across the street? Does the property have a septic system? This type of information can help residents keep themselves safe from exposure to pollution that can enter groundwater.

Septic systems, residential use of pesticides or automobile chemicals, and the use of deicing salts are the three most common in home causes of groundwater pollution. If deicing salts were to seep into the groundwater supply the water’s taste would become suspiciously salty. It takes a home test to determine high levels of chloride in the water itself to confirm the suspicions.

Most pesticides and other home use chemicals are either not readily detected in the water or will cause sudden illness in everything that the water is used to sustain. When plant life that is watered with pesticide polluted groundwater the plants tend to become ill and die. Animals that drink from the polluted water also become ill and may die.

If there is a stream or other small body of water on the property or nearby it is likely that the groundwater contamination has leached into the surface water and is killing the aquatic plants, fish, and other dependant animals.

While it usually takes a significant amount of chemical residue create such health hazards, over time some chemicals can accumulate and the property can have much more chemical based contaminants than originally thought.

Septic system pollution usually shows signs of septic system failure elsewhere. Residents are likely to find that the septic system has backed up and is creating a raw sewage flood somewhere in the yard or the surrounding property.

In most cases groundwater tests are needed to determine the level of bacteria that infiltrated the groundwater. In very rare cases the water might appear to be off color or contain an unwelcome aroma.

Prevention of Groundwater Pollution

Groundwater pollution can not be completely prevented. However, there are a number of steps that residents can take in order to help ensure that their risks are minimized and that their home environment is not likely to cause any potential contamination.

For instance, instead of using deicing salts residents can choose to use sand or kitty litter which won’t leach into the ground. Proper storage of potential contaminants like pesticides, weed killer, and automotive chemicals is imperative. Minimal use of these items is recommended and protective ground cover where appropriate can help eliminate the risk of soil absorption.

Preventing groundwater contamination from a septic system start with the proper installation. Since most residents inherit their septic systems with their property current and regular inspections are required. If the septic system accepts waste from a garbage disposal the inspection should happen every year.

Otherwise, every other year should be sufficient. Residents should be careful about what they put into their septic system. Chemical additives and household chemicals can cause damage to the septic system and result in groundwater pollution.

While big business is partially to blame, homeowners, recreational and professional boaters, and even farmers can contribute to the condition of the planet’s water.

Something as simple as flicking a cigarette butt out the window, which is often carried away by storm drains that may eventually empty out into bays, rivers, or oceans, leads to rather basic but contributing pollutants in the waters of the world. We can all contribute to cleaning up the planet when we all realize that we have a shared culpability in its health.

Various types of water pollution point to the different sources that can cause pollutants that affect the waterways.

Point—source pollution is generally a single element caused by one main source. An industrial spill into a river would be an example of point—source pollution.

Alternatively, nonpoint—source pollution is the result of numerous causes of contaminants that create pollution. These pollutants can travel great distances in the form of runoff or through storm drains.

Surface water pollution is the most recognizable form of water contamination. This is the pollution that can be visibly seen floating on the top of the water. While surface water pollution is often in the form of trash it can also be chemically based, such as gasoline or oil slicks floating on the water’s surface.

Groundwater pollution refers to the effects of chemicals (such as pesticides) that seep through the ground and enter water sources that originate underground. Well water is groundwater, thus groundwater pollution can be extremely dangerous to the health of humans as well as to the health of the planet.

Some types of water pollution are derived from an imbalance within the ecosystem which can be caused by natural and unnatural sources. When an ecosystem is out of balance, oxygen depletion can occur. A water based ecosystem is made up a multitude of living organisms, including microorganisms.

A natural balance of “healthy” and “unhealthy” microorganisms keeps the water based ecosystem thriving. When that ecosystem is thrown off balance, the “healthy” microorganisms are outnumbered by the “unhealthy” microorganisms, which cause a depletion of oxygen within the water and releases gasses such as sulfides or ammonia.

With a wide variety of types of water pollution, a single action will not be enough to ward off more pollutants. Prevention starts with awareness and continues with a dedicated effort to not only prevent further contamination but also clean up the present pollutants.

Everyone from the bosses of large production companies to the cigarette butt flicker has to do their share in order to prevent water pollution.

As research becomes more accurate and the data can help indicate which types of water pollution are doing the most destruction to our natural resources, focused projects and laws can become a bigger part of the solution.