dbd-79.nd
 
March 1994
 
Ground Water Youth Guide
 
 
North Dakota State University Extension Service
Fargo, ND
 
 
 
 POLLUTANTS IN OUR GROUNDWATER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
When water soaks into the ground, many different materials may become
mixed into it (dissolved). Some of these materials dissolve easily,
some do not. Some of them cause serious water quality problems, some
do not.
 
Materials that may cause water quality problems are called
Pollutants. They include things like gasoline, chemicals for cleaning
or killing pests, and disease-causing organisms.
 
dbd-79.fig1.nd.gif
Figure 1.
 
Groundwater pollutants come from many different sources. North Dakota
has few large industries that can be sources of water pollutants, but
sometimes incidents of groundwater pollution does occur. Common
sources for groundwater pollutants are landfills, buried storage
tanks, waste water lagoons, and chemical storage facilities. Other
possible sources for groundwater pollutants around homes or farmsteads
are septic systems, pesticide and fertilizer storage sites, pesticide
mixing areas, and livestock yards where animal waste builds up. 
 
dbd-79.fig2.nd.gif
Figure 2.
 
Some pollutants can't be seen, tasted, or smelled. That is why our
water needs to be tested before we use it. We need to be sure it is
safe to drink. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
determines which pollutants and how much of them cause health
problems.The EPA has a list of chemicals and materials that have to be
kept out of our groundwater.
TXTEND
 
Funding for this publication was provided by the U.S.Department of
Agriculture Extension Service, under project numbr 89-EWQI-1-9006 and
the Nort Dakota State University Extension Service.
 
NDSU Extension service. North Dakota State University of Agriculture
and Applied science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.
Robert J. Christman, Interim Director, Fargo. North
Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8
and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap,
age, Vietnam era veterans status. or sexual orientation; and are an
equal opportunity employer.