Sources of contamination that can cause 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

Source: Adapted from Cherry, p. 395.

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