Assessing the extent and sources of groundwater contamination

Abstract

Groundwater is of major importance in providing main water supply and is extensively exploited for private domestic and industrial use in many urban enters of developing world. At the same time, the subsurface has come to serve as the receptor for much urban and industrial and for solid waste disposal. There are increasing widespread indicators of degradation in the quality and quantity of groundwater, either serious or incipient, caused by excessive exploitation and inadequate pollution control.

The scale and degree of deterioration varies significantly with the susceptibility of local aquifers to exploitation related deterioration and their vulnerability to pollution.

This research is based on the investigation of the situation in a developing town. It aims to raise the awareness among policy makers of hydrogeological process in urban areas, to highlight key urban groundwater issues, to provide a framework for the system consideration of the groundwater dimension in urban management and to formulate approaches for management of groundwater resources in urban areas.