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Waste Disposal and Groundwater Management
Author(s) -
EDWORTHY K. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1989.tb01498.x
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , groundwater , aquifer , population , environmental science , water resource management , groundwater pollution , waste disposal , environmental engineering , waste management , geology , engineering , demography , geotechnical engineering , sociology
A bout ONE THIRD of the population of the UK depends on groundwater, which is pumped mainly from the Cretaceous Chalk limestone and the Permo‐Trias Bunter Sandstone, for their domestic supply. The recharge areas of both aquifers correspond broadly with areas of high population density and substantial industrial activity. The disposal of solid and liquid wastes which are generated by this large population has caused local contamination of groundwater, and there is evidence of trace concentrations of a large range of man‐made organic substances in public supplies. Although total prevention of groundwater pollution is not feasible, it is increasingly evident that groundwater resources and quality management must involve improved waste‐disposal management. This paper reviews the main threats, the ways in which the hazards and the resources should be monitored, and legislative changes which are desirable. The problems in the interpretation of data and the models used for prediction are also discussed.