Groundwater quality: introduction
Introduction
Maintaining the quality of Dutch groundwater is vital given the uses to which it is put. In the first place, groundwater is a vital source of drinking water. In addition, groundwater quality has a major influence on ecosystems. Groundwater quality is under pressure from eutrophication, and to a lesser degree from acidification, desiccation and toxic and hazardous substances.
A notable characteristic of the groundwater compartment is that decades may elapse between the application of a contaminant on the soil surface and the detection of an excessive concentration in the groundwater as a result. The more distant in time contamination is, the deeper the effect on groundwater will be now.
- Recent pollution on the ground level affects the quality of the uppermost groundwater (the top metre).
- Contamination from approximately ten years ago will be manifest in the shallow groundwater (at a depth of 5-15 metres).
- The medium-deep groundwater (15-30 metres depth) is now suffering the effects of contamination introduced a few decades ago.
