GEOL 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Nonpoint Source Pollution, Point Source Pollution, Ogallala Aquifer
Document Summary
Everytime water is withdrawn from the subsurface, it is creating a cone of depression. Many areas are vulnerable to desertification, loss of wetlands, and other problems linked to increase in the ratio of groundwater withdrawal to groundwater recharge. Fowled: when a well gets some kind of pollutant in it it that is difficult to extract. Once salt gets into the pore spaces, it is hard to get back out. Pump partially treated wastewater, since it separates the saltwater and freshwater. Cleaning up wastewater is cheaper, faster than cleaning up saltwater intrusion. Stormwater and wastewater injection mitigates this problem. Only a few years are left in some spots in the ogallala aquifer. Water level dropping at an average of 14 ft/year. Degradation of water quality as measured by biologica, chemical, or physical. Judged according to intended use of water. Dissolved ion concentrations depend on t, p, ph. Groundwater reacts as it flows through an aquifer:
