Final answer:
Ann Arbor's groundwater problem involves over-pumping and saltwater intrusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groundwater problems in Ann Arbor can be attributed to over-pumping and potential saltwater intrusion. Over-pumping of groundwater can lead to a drop in the water table, causing a cone of depression and depletion of water resources such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. This can result in the need for deeper wells and encountering more saline groundwater. Saltwater intrusion occurs when overpumping of fresh water aquifers near coastlines allows saltwater to enter the fresh water zones.Ann Arbor, along with many other regions, faces a water supply crisis, where access to sufficient and clean water is becoming increasingly scarce. Contributing factors include overuse, pollution from various sources such as sewage and agriculture, and climate change affecting precipitation patterns and accelerating glacier melt. This crisis is exacerbated by the lack of federal laws adequately addressing groundwater quality concerns.