Final answer:
Groundwater is typically found in the pores between particles in sand and gravel or in the fissures in rocks. It can also come from seepage from surface water, deliberate pumping, irrigation, and underground wastewater treatment systems. Groundwater is a significant reservoir of fresh water and is important in arid climates. However, it is being depleted faster than it is being replenished in many areas. Groundwater can become polluted from various sources, including underground storage tanks, septic tanks, agriculture, landfills, and fossil fuel extraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groundwater is typically found in the pores between particles in sand and gravel or in the fissures in rocks. It can also originate from seepage from surface water, deliberate pumping of surface water into the ground, irrigation, and underground wastewater treatment systems. Wetlands are excellent recharge areas where surface water infiltrates the ground.
Groundwater is an important resource, particularly in arid climates, and is the primary water source for rural homeowners. It is a significant reservoir of fresh water, containing more than 30 times the amount of water found in rivers and lakes combined. However, groundwater is being depleted faster than it is being replenished in many areas.
Common sources of groundwater pollution include leaking underground storage tanks, septic tanks, agricultural activity, landfills, and fossil fuel extraction. Contaminants found in groundwater can include physical, inorganic chemical, organic chemical, bacteriological, and radioactive parameters.