Groundwater Pollution and Vulnerability Assessment

Abstract

Groundwater is a critical resource that serve as a source of drinking water to large human population and, provide long-term water for irrigation purposes. In recent years; however, this precious resource being increasingly threatened, due to natural and anthropogenic activities. A variety of contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, perfluorinated compounds, endocrine disruptors, and biological agents detected in the groundwater sources of both developing and developed nations. In this review paper, various studies have been included that documented instances of groundwater pollution and vulnerability to emerging contaminants of concern, pesticides, heavy metals, and leaching potential of various organic and inorganic contaminants from poorly managed residual waste products (biosolids, landfills, latrines, and septic tanks etc.). Understanding vulnerability of groundwater to pollution is critical to maintain the integrity of groundwater. A section on managed artificial recharge studies is included to highlight the sustainable approaches to groundwater conservation, replenishment and sustainability. This review paper is the synthesis of studies published in last one year that either documented the pollution problems or evaluated the vulnerability of groundwater pollution.

Water Quality Assessment: A Quali-Quantitative Method for Evaluation of Environmental Pressures Potentially Impacting on Groundwater, Developed under the M.I.N.O.Re. Project

“…To define the localization of the wells to be monitored, within a maximum pre-defined number of about 70 wells, we decided to start with the definition of a complete list of local environmental pressures and human activities (i.e., industries, legal/illegal waste disposal sites, etc.) potentially impacting on groundwater based on the most updated knowledge and recent scientific literature [23][24][25][26][27]. We have also taken into account the major hydrogeological variables (i.e., flow direction; the presence of cracks, caves, sinkholes, etc.)…”

“…After entering the information levels in the GIS database, the "weight" that was assigned to each individual information layer was established on the basis of prior knowledge and scientific literature [23]. Then rating values ranging from 0 to 1 were given depending on the contribution of each anthropic/environmental pressure to the pollution of groundwater.…”

Early Neurotoxic Effects of Inorganic Arsenic Modulate Cortical GSH Levels Associated With the Activation of the Nrf2 and NFκB Pathways, Expression of Amino Acid Transporters and NMDA Receptors and the Production of Hydrogen Sulfide

“…Improvements in the quality of life of humans is reflected in the increase in our life span; however, environmental pollution continues to be the largest cause of disease and premature death worldwide (Landrigan et al, 2018). The overexploitation of water resources exposes a continuously increasing number of people to toxic elements such as pesticides, nitrites, and metals (Kurwadkar, 2017). Arsenic is an element widely distributed on earth in soil and minerals that, naturally or due to anthropogenic activities, might enter the air, water, or food.…”

Water Quality Index for Assessment of Potability of Groundwater Resource in Langata Sub County, Nairobi-Kenya

“…In general, despite groundwater being an important source of human water needs, the resource is increasingly threatened, due to both natural and anthropogenic activities [27]. The impacts of heavy metals [28], the influence of pit latrines [29], impact of climate change [30] and the human influence [31] are major factors causing groundwater pollution in most aquifers of the world.…”