How does groundwater become polluted?

Groundwater becomes polluted when toxins or pollutants are emitted into the ground, or surface water that then leeches through soil and enters the groundwater. Groundwater is often located beneath the earth at varying depths, but when pollutants or toxins pass through the earth to reach these groundwater sources they then often become polluted. read more

a. Pollutants mixed with water pass through permeable layers above the aquifer. b. Factories dump their waste directly into aquifers. read more

Groundwater use decreased from preindustrial times to industrial times. b. Groundwater use increased from preindustrial times to industrial times. c. Groundwater use remained virtually the same from preindustrial to industrial times. d. Groundwater was not used during preindustrial times. read more