SOS for the groundwater tables
What are they?
Some basic rules to avoid polluting the subterranean waters

by Alessandro Gatto

One of the problems which is often overlooked is the pollution of the groundwater tables. In the near future this will almost invisibly bring about a series of problems of such gravity that future generations, because of our irresponsibility, will have to pay unimaginable consequences.

In fact, whereas polluting surface waters is evident to everyone and when the source of pollution is halted everything goes back to "normal" (a striking example is the reclamation of the Thames), in the case of groundwater tables the problem is much more serious and harder to resolve.

The penetration of polluting agents into the subsoil, however, depends on the structure of the ground and the type of substance. In fact, sandy ground is extremely vulnerable when faced with polluting agents while a clay type soil presents more of a barrier even if today industrialisation has caused a huge increase in the number of chemical substances capable of penetrating the ground and consequently the groundwater tables.

Besides chemical elements, the growth in the human population has also caused an increase in biological pollution, above all in pathogenic germs. The real danger of these germs is however limited to wells and springs in proximity of sewers.

Chemical polluters are especially dangerous also because they are more persistent and by the time we note their presence the groundwater table is already seriously polluted. An indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, weedkillers and pesticides in agriculture or waste dumping is to blame for these substances which all end up in the ground and penetrate the subterranean waters.

The groundwater tables are also polluted by waste disposal and industrial waste which lead to the enormous presence of heavy metals found in subterranean waters, such as arsenic, mercury, chrome and lead or solvents like trichloroethylene which mixes with water.

Faced with this problem, governments would do well to take action to protect the groundwater tables which, besides, have no state boundaries. Even if a short-term solution seems difficult there are some rules to respect:

1) Planned location of activities which can cause pollution of the groundwater tables in areas where the soil has a thick clay stratum.

2) Proper disposal of industrial and civil refluent waters.

3) Elimination of chemical pesticides and weedkillers which are generally highly toxic and the introduction of biological agriculture, something which the European Community encourages.

By following these guidelines we can contribute enormously to avoiding superhuman efforts in the battle against the planet's great pollution problem.

See also:

"A prayer to all Sacred Waters" by Hyemeyohsts (Wolf) Storm Medicine Man and writer The Ancient Water Temples of Sardinia "Rain" a poem by the Mozambican poet Albino Magaia 12 rules for respecting water Marsh grounds The fountains of Roquebrune

The Earth's fresh waters. This is where they are situated The River Amazon, the planet's great artery The ailing river Arno The springs of the river Arno, a sacred place for the Etruscan Small gallery of the microalgae that inhabit the Arno river from the novel "SIETE FUENTES"

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