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Groundwater pollution: Occurrence, detection, and remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants
Author(s) -
Kurwadkar Sudarshan,
Kanel Sushil R.,
Nakarmi Amita
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.1002/wer.1415
Subject(s) - groundwater , pollutant , environmental remediation , aquifer , environmental science , pollution , groundwater pollution , water pollution , natural (archaeology) , groundwater remediation , water quality , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , contamination , geology , ecology , chemistry , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , biology
Groundwater pollution is a result of natural and anthropogenic activities. While the elevated levels of various inorganic constituents could be attributed to natural processes, such as geological weathering and aquifer characteristics, many times, anthropogenic activities also substantially pollute the groundwater. On the contrary, the occurrence of organic pollutants is primarily due to various anthropogenic activities. Extensive groundwater mining, the hydraulic connection between groundwater and other surface water bodies, and leaking underground buried infrastructure also contribute to groundwater pollution. Water resources are scarce commodities, and preserving groundwater quality is of critical concern. This paper documents instances of groundwater quality impact during the year 2019 due to both natural and anthropogenic activities throughout the world. Practitioner points Groundwater pollution problems reported during the year 2019 are reviewed and documented. Occurrence of organic, inorganic, and microbial pollutants in groundwater is reported. Remediation technologies for selected inorganic pollutants are reviewed and documented.