Table of Contents
- 1 What causes saltwater intrusion?
- 2 How does saltwater intrusion affect how humans use the water?
- 3 What refers to the salt content of water?
- 4 What is the most important factor in minimizing saltwater intrusion?
- 5 Which is a natural consequence of groundwater withdrawal?
- 6 What are the dangers of contamination of groundwater?
What causes saltwater intrusion?
Seawater intrusion is caused by decreases in groundwater levels or by rises in seawater levels. When you pump out fresh water rapidly, you lower the height of the freshwater in the aquifer forming a cone of depression. The salt water rises 40 feet for every 1 foot of freshwater depression and forms a cone of ascension.
How does saltwater intrusion affect how humans use the water?
Saltwater intrusion can result in the need for water utilities to increase treatment, relocate water intakes, or development of alternate sources of fresh water. Saltwater intrusion, through surface or ground water sources, may diminish the availability or quality of source waters for drinking water utilities.
What anthropogenic activities can lead to salt water intrusion of coastal freshwater wetlands?
Anthropogenic SWI drivers include land drainage, pumping of coastal freshwater aquifers, reduction in freshwater discharge from dam construction, water withdrawals, or other water diversions, and hydrological/hydraulic structures and land-use changes within watersheds (Fig. 2).
What are some consequences of salt water intrusion?
Saltwater intrusion could induce a shift from agriculture to aquaculture, which may be more profitable. Few studies are available for saltwater intrusion. Sea level rise would erode coastal wetlands, particularly if hard structures protect human occupations.
What refers to the salt content of water?
The term “salinity” refers to the concentrations of salts in water or soils. Salinity can take three forms, classified by their causes: primary salinity (also called natural salinity); secondary salinity (also called dryland salinity), and tertiary salinity (also called irrigation salinity).
What is the most important factor in minimizing saltwater intrusion?
Controlling and Managing Saltwater Intrusion One key to controlling saltwater intrusion is to maintain the proper balance between water being pumped from an aquifer and the amount of water recharging it.
How does human activity affect the quality of groundwater?
Industrial discharges, urban activities, agriculture, groundwater pumpage, and disposal of waste all can affect groundwater quality. Contaminants can be human-induced, as from leaking fuel tanks or toxic chemical spills.
How does saltwater intrusion affect the quality of water?
The intrusion of saltwater caused by withdrawals of freshwater from the groundwater system can make the resource unsuitable for use. Thus, groundwater management plans should take into account potential changes in water quality that might occur because of saltwater intrusion.
Which is a natural consequence of groundwater withdrawal?
A natural consequence of groundwater withdrawals is the removal of water from subsurface storage, but the overall rates and magnitude of groundwater depletion in the United States are not well characterized.
What are the dangers of contamination of groundwater?
Causes acute and chronic toxicity; can cause damage to lungs and bones. Possible carcinogen. Found in low concentrations in rocks, coal, and petroleum and enters the groundwater and surface water when dissolved by acidic waters.