Protecting Aquifers: Preventing Pollution To Ensure Water Safety

Aquifers are layers of underground rock that are saturated with water. Water from rainfall, snow-melt, lakes, streams, and wetlands seeps into the ground and collects in the spaces in between the rock, similar to water in a sponge. Wells are drilled into aquifers to extract water for homes, businesses, agriculture, and industries. A large portion of drinking water comes from aquifers. Polluted aquifers can lead to health risks such as contaminated water and the ingestion of toxic chemicals. So how can we help the aquifer from being polluted?

Limit the use of pesticides and fertilisers

Aquifers are layers of underground rock that are saturated with water. Water from rainfall, snow-melt, lakes, streams, and wetlands seeps into the ground and collects in the spaces in between the rock, similar to water in a sponge. Wells are drilled into aquifers to extract water for homes, businesses, agriculture, and industries. A large portion of drinking water comes from aquifers.

To help prevent aquifer pollution, we can limit the use of pesticides and fertilisers. Pesticides and fertilisers can contaminate groundwater, rendering it unsafe for human use. Groundwater gets polluted when contaminants from pesticides and fertilisers make their way into an aquifer. This can be difficult or even impossible to clean up, and it can be very costly. Preventing contamination is far less expensive than cleaning up contaminated groundwater.

Everyone can help by limiting their use of pesticides and fertilisers. You can also be sure to dispose of chemicals properly at a waste facility and do not dump them on the ground, down a well, or into a septic system.

Businesses should also follow rules designed to prevent groundwater contamination. Local governments and residents can also protect their drinking water supply by designating the land as critical for their aquifers. This designation of a critical area or groundwater management area can add special protections to help prevent contamination, focus cleanup resources or source control efforts, and ensure that enough water is reaching the aquifer.

Dispose of chemicals properly at a waste facility

Aquifers are layers of underground rock that are saturated with water. Water from rainfall, snow-melt, lakes, streams, and wetlands seeps into the ground and collects in the spaces in between the rock, similar to water in a sponge. Wells are drilled into aquifers to extract water for homes, businesses, agriculture, and industries. A large portion of drinking water comes from aquifers.

Everyone can help by limiting their use of fertilizers and pesticides. Businesses should follow rules designed to prevent groundwater contamination. Local government and residents can protect their drinking water supply under the Growth Management Act.

Prevent dumping of chemicals on the ground, down wells, or into septic systems

Aquifers are layers of underground rock that are saturated with water. Water from rainfall, snow-melt, lakes, streams, and wetlands seeps into the ground and collects in the spaces in between the rock, similar to water in a sponge. Wells are drilled into aquifers to extract water for homes, businesses, agriculture, and industries. A large portion of drinking water comes from aquifers. Polluted aquifers can lead to health risks such as contaminated water and the ingestion of toxic chemicals.

To prevent dumping of chemicals on the ground, down wells, or into septic systems, it is important to dispose of chemicals properly at a waste facility. This means not dumping them on the ground, down a well, or into a septic system. Everybody can help by limiting their use of fertilizers and pesticides.

It is also important to be aware of the potential for groundwater to spread contamination far from the original polluting source as it seeps into streams, lakes, and oceans. This means that even if a chemical is dumped in an area that is not directly above an aquifer, it can still eventually reach and pollute the aquifer.

To help prevent contamination, cities and counties can designate land as critical for their aquifers. This designation of a critical area or groundwater management area can add special protections, focus cleanup resources or source control efforts, and ensure that enough water is reaching the aquifer.

Ensure businesses follow rules designed to prevent groundwater contamination

Aquifers are layers of underground rock that are saturated with water. Wells are drilled into aquifers to extract water for homes, businesses, agriculture, and industries. A large portion of drinking water comes from aquifers.

Groundwater contamination can lead to health risks such as contaminated water and the ingestion of toxic chemicals. Preventing contamination is far less expensive than cleaning up contaminated groundwater.

To ensure businesses follow rules designed to prevent groundwater contamination, the following steps can be taken:

• Governments can provide water quality standards and guidance to businesses.
• Businesses can limit their use of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Businesses can properly dispose of chemicals at waste facilities and not dump them on the ground, down a well, or into a septic system.
• Governments can designate land as critical for aquifers, adding special protections to help prevent contamination.
• Governments can focus cleanup resources or source control efforts to ensure that enough water is reaching the aquifer.

Designate land as critical for aquifers to add special protections

Aquifers are layers of underground rock that are saturated with water. Wells are drilled into aquifers to extract water for homes, businesses, agriculture, and industries. A large portion of drinking water comes from aquifers. Therefore, it is important to protect aquifers from pollution.

Designating land as critical for aquifers can add special protections to help prevent contamination. This can be done by focusing cleanup resources or source control efforts and ensuring that enough water is reaching the aquifer. For example, the Washington State Department of Ecology provides guidance and technical assistance so cities and counties can designate the land as critical for their aquifers. This designation of a critical area or groundwater management area can help prevent contamination and ensure clean drinking water.

Additionally, it is important to prevent contamination in the first place, as it is far less expensive than cleaning up contaminated groundwater. Individuals can help by limiting their use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as properly disposing of chemicals at a waste facility. Governments can also play a role by providing water quality standards to ensure that businesses follow rules designed to prevent groundwater contamination.

The Critical Aquifer Recharge Area Guidance is an example of a government programme that helps local governments and residents protect their drinking water supply under the Growth Management Act. Another example is the Voluntary Stewardship Program, which offers an alternative approach to protecting Critical Areas from agricultural activity impacts under the Growth Management Act.

By designating land as critical for aquifers and implementing special protections, we can help ensure that our aquifers remain a reliable source of clean drinking water for years to come.

Frequently asked questions