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Groundwater contamination occurs when pollutants enter groundwater and make it unsafe or unfit for human use.
Groundwater contamination can be caused by a number of factors, including: Subsurface wastewater disposal injection wells: The hundreds of thousands of injection wells nationwide can contaminate underground sources of drinking water. Improperly placed wells: Improperly placed wells can lead to drinking water contamination with pathogens from feces and urine. Leakages: When not properly designed, leakages can release contaminants like oils, nitrates, chemicals, and bacteria into groundwater. Urbanization: Groundwater contamination is a serious problem in many urban areas.
Deep well injection is a liquid waste disposal technology that uses injection wells to place treated or untreated liquid waste into geologic formations. Deep well injection is a method by which hazardous wastes like nuclear or radioactive wastes are buried deep into the Earth layer to avoid contaminating groundwater resources. Deep injection wells are constructed with a series of casings that are set in the ground. The casings start out large and become smaller in diameter as they go deeper. The casings are typically made of steel alloys or fiberglass for better chemical resistance.
When disposing of hazardous waste deep well injection, consider the following: The location must be geologically stable The location must have protective, impervious rock above and below the formation The location must consider seismic risk and pressure within the formation The location must show that the waste will remain secure for at least 10,000 years
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