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Manmade Contamination Hazards a
Author(s) -
McGauhey P. H.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1968.tb01644.x
Subject(s) - groundwater , environmental chemistry , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , biodegradation , raw water , nutrient , organic matter , water quality , pollution , contamination , pollutant , pesticide , soil water , chemistry , environmental engineering , agronomy , ecology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology , soil science , engineering
Hazards to ground water may result from adding to water which may infiltrate the soil, or to the soil through which water percolates, wastes from man's life processes; his industrial and commercial activity; or his use of water, fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. From experimental data it is evident that particulate matter, including bacteria and viruses, do not move far with percolating water in a soil system. The chemical products of biodegradation of organic wastes, however, with a few exceptions such as phosphates, move quite freely and hence reach ground water. Since they are no different than the compounds found in ground waters the effect of domestic use of water is generally to increase the concentration of salts normally present in such waters. From the vast spectrum of compounds produced by the chemical industry and used in industry and commerce comes hazards to ground‐water quality such as metal ions, phenols, tar residues, brines, and exotic organics which may through accident, carelessness or waste‐water discharge contaminate ground water. Mineralization with nutrients and soluble soil fractions, and possibly, pesticide residues are the hazards from agricultural use. Leaching from solid waste landfills is possible under poor long‐term management and might involve chemicals, iron, and various earth minerals. It is concluded that the most serious hazard is the buildup of dissolved solids to levels inimical to beneficial use.