What is groundwater? Essentially, it refers to subsurface water sources occurring in various media, including soils, rocks, and unconsolidated sediments such as sand. Agricultural irrigation, for instance, constitutes a significant contributor to groundwater contamination. Additional sources include the discharge of untreated industrial wastewater, which may infiltrate the subsurface and thereby compromise groundwater quality. This raises the question: what are the potential risks associated with the failure to mitigate groundwater pollution?
Like other water bodies, groundwater is susceptible to contamination via multiple pathways, ranging from atmospheric deposition to septic system leakage. Delayed intervention in addressing groundwater pollution can lead to severe adverse consequences. Severe contamination events may pose threats to wildlife, vegetation, and human populations alike. In China, where groundwater serves as the primary source of drinking water for a large proportion of the population, any form of pollution inherently endangers public health. Once contaminated, groundwater typically triggers a cascade of issues: escalating remediation costs, declining drinking water quality, and in extreme cases, the loss of viable water supplies.
Groundwater exhibits relatively slow movement, rendering pollution detection far more challenging compared to surface water systems. This delay impedes the timely resolution of root causes. Produce such as fruits and vegetables cultivated using polluted groundwater may accumulate contaminants, presenting public health risks. Consumption of such contaminated foodstuffs can lead to adverse effects on the nervous system, liver, and other vital organs.
In light of these concerns, relevant authorities have increasingly prioritized water pollution control. To tackle groundwater contamination, contaminated sources must be subject to treatment and monitoring protocols to ensure water safety prior to human consumption. Water supply utilities, for example, which are responsible for delivering water to households, must exercise rigorous oversight. Drinking water should undergo treatment processes before distribution, followed by real-time monitoring using water quality analyzers. This ensures that all water quality parameters meet regulatory standards and are non-hazardous to human health prior to supply. Online water quality monitoring plays a crucial role in this context, as it provides continuous insights into water quality status.
