· Over 25% of Canadians
and 53% of Americans rely on ground water for their drinking water
supply.
· Scientists predict that in the next few decades more
contaminated aquifers will be discovered, new contaminants will be
identified, and more
contaminated groundwater will be discharged into wetlands,
streams and lakes.
· Once an aquifer is contaminated, it may be unusable for
decades. The residence time can be anywhere from two weeks or
10,000 years.
· About 83% of our blood is water. It helps digest our food,
transport waste, and control body temperature.
· Globally, approximately 34,000 deaths occur daily from water-,
feces- and dirt-related diseases.
· In the developing countries, 80% of illnesses are
water-related. Worldwide water withdrawals from water bodies have
risen from 250 m2/person/year
in 1900 to over 700 m2 today.
· One litre of oil can contaminate up to 2 million litres of
water.
· Approximately 10 litres of water is required to manufacture 1
litre of gasoline.
· Approximately 1,000 kilograms of water is required to grow 1
kilogram of potatoes.
· Approximately 295,000 litres of water is required to produce
910 kilograms of paper.
· Approximately 86,300 litres of water is required to produce 910
kilograms of steel.
· On average, 14% of municipal piped water is lost in pipeline
leaks - up to 30% in some communities.
· Less than 3% of the water produced at a large municipal water
treatment plant is used for drinking purposes.
· During the summer, about half of all treated water is sprayed
onto lawns and gardens.
· Water uses and consumption: Toilet flush - 15-20L; Shower (10
min.) - 100L; Tub bath - 60L; Automatic dishwashing - 40L.;
Outdoor watering -
35L/min; Washing machine - 225L.
· Each day humans must replace 2.4 litres of water, some through
drinking and the rest taken by the body from the foods eaten.
Groundwater contamination
Point sources:
· On-site septic systems
· Leaky tanks or pipelines containing petroleum products
· Leaks or spills of industrial chemicals at manufacturing
facilities
· Underground injection wells (industrial waste)
· Municipal landfills
· Livestock wastes
· Leaky sewer lines
· Chemicals used at wood preservation facilities
· Mill tailings in mining areas
· Fly ash from coal-fired power plants
· Sludge disposal areas at petroleum refineries
· Land spreading of sewage or sewage sludge
· Graveyards
· Road salt storage areas
· Wells for disposal of liquid wastes
· Runoff of salt and other chemicals from roads and highways
· Spills related to highway or railway accidents
· Coal tar at old coal gasification sites
· Asphalt production and equipment cleaning sites
Non-point (distributed) sources: · Fertilizers on agricultural land
· Pesticides on agricultural land and forests
· Contaminants in rain, snow, and dry atmospheric fallout
