Groundwater – The hidden resource

As Eco River meanders through the wilderness and into the countryside, it keeps losing and collecting water molecules. Some of these molecules seep into the ground and join the groundwater underneath the earth's surface. It might be a long time before these molecules rejoin the others because groundwater moves slowly, anywhere from a few millimetres to 1 or 2 kilometres each year.

Did you know that about one third of the world's fresh water is found underground? Almost nine million Canadians depend on the groundwater supply for their drinking water, which is replenished by the rainfall seeping down to the water table.

What else can be stored underground?

Unfortunately, pollutants can also seep down to the water table and once there, they move very slowly through the soil. Contaminated groundwater can affect users for a long time because it is harder to detect and clean up.

Some groundwater pollutants are:

• pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural activities
• gasoline that leaks from storage tanks
• road salt
• landfill sites and garbage dumps
• chemicals and hazardous wastes such as cleaning solvents
• leaky septic tanks and sewers.

Prepare a presentation using a poster illustration to show how groundwater can be contaminated. Emphasize how important it is that we protect this valuable resource.

Home Check: Look around your home for substances which could create problems if they were dumped into the sewers or taken to landfill sites. These would include items like leftover paint, paint thinners, cleaning solvents, old batteries, car oils, rat poison, pesticides, furniture polish, drain cleaners, and bleach.

Help your family do a spring or fall cleanup around the house. Decide which products are still useful. To dispose of harmful substances correctly, contact your municipal office to determine if and when a recycling or hazardous waste collection depot is scheduled for your area.

Find out about water in your community

Where does your water supply come from? Where does it go after use? Are there materials which go down your drain into the sewer that should not? How is wastewater handled in your community? Where does the sanitary sewer empty? Does your community have a storm sewer? Where does it empty?

Did you know that there are cities and communities in Canada which dump their sewage directly into the water without treatment?

Find out more abut wastewater treatment in your community. If there is a waste treatment plant, have your class arrange a visit. Or if your community uses septic tanks, invite someone to your class to describe how septic tanks work.

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