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Groundwater Pollution. Groundwater Pollution. Non-point Sources Pesticides Fertilizers Petroleum products (oil, gasoline from roads) Point Sources Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)- gas stations, oil tanks, factories Septic Tanks from homes Unlined Landfills Wastewater or Manure Lagoons.
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Groundwater Pollution • Non-point Sources • Pesticides • Fertilizers • Petroleum products (oil, gasoline from roads) • Point Sources • Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)- gas stations, oil tanks, factories • Septic Tanks from homes • Unlined Landfills • Wastewater or Manure Lagoons
Manure Lagoon Underground Storage Tank (UST) Industrial wastewater lagoon
Septic Tanks www.suffolkva.us
Plume- a continuous emission from a point source that has a starting point and observable pathway Plume Source earthsci.org
Cleaning Groundwater Pollution • Extremely difficult problem to solve: • Aquifers are difficult to access, unlike surface water • Recharge and flow rates are very slow • Soil and Rock can “cling” to pollutants for many years • Remediation- the process of cleaning up pollution • In situ remediation- cleans up contaminated soils and groundwater without removing any materials; minimal disturbance • Ex situ remediation- removes contaminated material from the site to be either: • Dumped in a secure, off-site location (ex: landfill) • Cleaned and then replaced in original location
Groundwater Contamination Lab • Arsenic Investigation • Lab objective: Determine the source of Arsenic using well data from a community • Complete Part 1, then pick up Part 2 up front