Groundwater pollution is the result of pollution entering the water table. Leaking storage tanks and septic systems, hazardous waste, landfills, and various chemicals all cause groundwater pollution. Over time, toxic pollution and chemicals seep into soil, eventually reaching the water table. The pollution then mixes with the water, contaminating the supply. Contaminated groundwater can lead to disease, cancer, and poison. Humans and wildlife are both negatively affected by groundwater pollution. Groundwater pollution can be treated by dilution, biological treatment, and chemical treatment.
It is also possible for groundwater to be polluted through the process of fracking. Hydraulic fracking involves fracturing rocks underground to release oil and natural gas. To fracture these rocks, a combination of water and a thickening agent are injected into the ground. This contaminated water can eventually mix with freshwater, resulting in contamination. |