Name: Cindy M.
Status: Educator
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: December 2, 2004
Question:
I know that polluted groundwater can in turn pollute
lakes and rivers. My question is can a polluted lake or river effect
groundwater? How?
Replies:
The bottom of a lake, river, or even the oceans allow the exchange of
water, and the impurities it contains, with the bottom of the body of
water. This is a dynamic process so a polluted body of water allows
impurities to permeate the soil beneath it.
Vince Calder
Yes, if there is a connection (sometimes called "communication") between the
polluted lake or river and the groundwater, the contamination can go either
way depending on how the groundwater flows in the area.
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