Groundwater contamination is…

Groundwater contamination is artificially induced degradation of the natural quality of groundwater. Any change in the taste, smell, or composition of groundwater can harm all living beings. Open waste dumps and landfills are common cause for groundwater contamination and continue to be a threat to groundwater. Toxic elements from the waste dissolve in the rainwater, and enter aquifers as the rainwater percolates through the soil. If the rainwater cannot directly infiltrate the soil because the layer below the landfill/waste dump is impermeable, it can still contaminate groundwater through the bath tub effect. (Bath tub effect: water starts to accumulate under the landfill above the impermeable layer, and after a certain point, it spills out into the groundwater reservoir.) There are waste facilities which prevent water contamination and run off specifically to try and prevent issues from arising. However, the property apply for this proposal has creeks running throughout which would effect various farms from drinking water along with livestock that use these creeks, the environmental wildlife as well as vegetation. The conservation authority should be concerned as the property could effect additional areas. The site presently does not have systems in place to prevent water contamination or runoff as it currently appears to be a gravel pit by the already existing digging and construction which already has displayed lack of policies in place and concern for contamination. This possible contamination will not only affect the quality of the land but can lead to soil contamination and degradation of land, affecting vegetation growth, adding pollutants to the water and ground.