The advantages of withdrawing groundwater include water for drinking and irrigation; availability and locality; low cost, no evaporation losses ; and it is renewable. Disadvantages include aquifer depletion from over pumping, subsidence, pollution, saltwater intrusion, and reduced water flow.
What is one disadvantage of using groundwater?
The disadvantages are the cost is greater and there is impurity from deeper well; water streams are condensed into surface water ; the imposition of saltwater mixing into drinking water distributes close to coastal regions; for years aquifers polluted groundwater; land is descending because groundwater is being over ...
What are the problems of using groundwater?
Depletion of water tables, saltwater encroachment, drying of aquifers, groundwater pollution, water logging and salinity , etc. are major consequences of overexploitation and intensive irrigation. It has been reported that in many parts of the country the water table is declining at the rate of 1–2 m/year.
Is it good to use groundwater?
NSW Health recommends that groundwater is not used for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene (including cleaning teeth and bathing) without testing and appropriate treatment including disinfection.
What are the pros of groundwater?
- Rocks act as a natural filter.
- No loss of water through evaporation.
- No requirement for expensive and environmentally damaging dams.
- Pumping costs low.
What are 4 effects of groundwater depletion?
Some of the negative effects of ground-water depletion include increased pumping costs, deterioration of water quality, reduction of water in streams and lakes, or land subsidence . Such effects, while variable, happen to some degree with any ground-water use.
Will groundwater run out?
Groundwater is being pumped faster than it can be naturally replenished . The Central Valley Aquifer in California underlies one of the nation’s most agriculturally productive regions, but it is in drastic decline and has lost about ten cubic miles of water in just four years.
Why is India’s water so abstracted?
Rising sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean may be linked to this decline, they found. This “has partially contributed to the decline in groundwater” due to lower recharge levels, he explained. And when monsoonal rainfall is lower, farmers rely more on groundwater, so extraction is higher, he stressed.
What are the disadvantages of rain water harvesting?
- Unpredictable Rainfall. Rainfall is hard to predict, and sometimes little, or no rainfall can limit the supply of rainwater. ...
- Initial High Cost. ...
- Regular Maintenance. ...
- Certain Roof Types may Seep Chemicals or Animal Droppings. ...
- Storage Limits.
How is groundwater affected by humans?
Some human activities, such as pumping water into the ground for oil and gas extraction, can cause an aquifer to hold too much ground water . Too much ground water discharge to streams can lead to erosion and alter the balance of aquatic plant and animal species.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of withdrawing groundwater?
The advantages of withdrawing groundwater include water for drinking and irrigation; availability and locality; low cost, no evaporation losses ; and it is renewable. Disadvantages include aquifer depletion from over pumping, subsidence, pollution, saltwater intrusion, and reduced water flow.
What are the major causes of groundwater depletion?
Subsidies on electricity and high MSP for water intensive crops is also leading reasons for depletion. Water contamination as in the case of pollution by landfills, septic tanks, leaky underground gas tanks, and from overuse of fertilizers and pesticides lead to damage and depletion of groundwater resources.
Why groundwater is bad?
Groundwater is found below the earth’s surface and includes water from bores, springs, wells and other sources. There are risks involved in using groundwater. Groundwater may contain disease-causing microorganisms which can cause illness. ... This can release harmful metals such as lead and copper into the water.
Why groundwater is safe?
All groundwater sources should be protected from contamination (germs and harmful chemicals). ... Most of the time, U.S. groundwater is safe to use. However, groundwater sources can become contaminated with germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and chemicals, such as those used in fertilizers and pesticides.
Is groundwater the cleanest water?
Unlike surface water collected in rivers and lakes, groundwater is often clean and ready to drink . This is because the soil actually filters the water. The soil can hold onto pollutants—such as living organisms, harmful chemicals and minerals—and only let the clean water through.
What actions can the government take to protect the groundwater?
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (Superfund) – authorizes the government to clean up contamination caused by chemical spills or hazardous waste that do or could pose threats to the environment(groundwater).
