Maryland Residential Water Pollution Lawyer

Learn more about water contamination and your legal rights. Information provided by Greenberg & Bederman.

Soil and water Contamination
How does residential water pollution happen?
Possible Health Effects
What are your legal rights as a victim of ground water contamination?
What is MTBE?
What is Atrazine?
What is Perchlorate?

The Dangers of Contaminated Groundwater
Groundwater is rainwater that is absorbed into spaces beneath the surface of the Earth. This underground water source produces 20% of the fresh water utilized by every person on this planet on a daily basis. According to the National Groundwater Association, 49% of the drinking water in the United States of America comes from groundwater. Once groundwater becomes contaminated with some form of pollutant, it can become unusable for decades. For this reason, maintaining a clean and uncontaminated groundwater supply is an extremely important global issue.

Unfortunately, there are occasions when groundwater can become contaminated. Groundwater contamination results when hazardous materials such as gasoline, oil, and pesticides soak into the ground and merge with the groundwater. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors groundwater and establishes safety regulations for approximately 90 contaminants found in drinking water. A recent study group has determined that there are over 2,100 toxic chemicals in drinking water that can cause cancer. Contaminated groundwater can be lethal to all forms of life that come into contact with it.

Common sources of major groundwater contamination are underground storage tanks, septic systems, hazardous waste sites, and landfills. Currently, there are well over 10 million storage tanks buried throughout the United States. As these tanks age, they tend to decay and crack, thereby, releasing dangerous chemicals into the Earth. Septic systems are extremely common in urban as well as rural communities. These systems take waste from one location and deposit the waste in another location. The process is intended to be harmless; however, they are unable to neutralize nitrogen, which when not disposed of properly can be harmful to the environment. Right now, there are 20,000 abandoned hazardous waste sites scattered around the United States. These numbers escalate on an annual basis.

Of course there are other means with which groundwater can become contaminated. Professional as well as amateur gardeners often use chemical pesticides that successfully deter insects from ravaging their crops. When it rains, these same pesticides soak into the Earth and pollute the groundwater. Just imagine the same chemicals that kill starving insects, can end up in the same groundwater that children drink.

It is important to note that contaminated groundwater is only harmful when it has been extracted from the Earth by either artificial or natural means. Stay away from areas that may contain contaminated groundwater. Contact with contaminated groundwater whether through drinking, bathing, agricultural purposes, or eating animals that may have come into contact with contaminated groundwater can be dangerous. Symptoms that derive from contact with contaminated water include illnesses such as hepatitis, dysentery, brain tumors, and respiratory problems. In some cases, contact with contaminated groundwater by pregnant women may result in birth defects.

Contaminated groundwater is clear in color just like healthy water. Thus, it is impossible to determine purity with a cursory visual examination. The contaminated groundwater may also be odorless. Simply boiling the water will not remove all of the contaminants. Scientists are constantly developing new processes with which contaminated groundwater can be purified. Perhaps one day in the future, contaminated groundwater will not be a problem. Here in the present there are people that can help. If you feel that you or someone that you know may have come into contact with contaminated groundwater, contact our law firm for a free groundwater contamination case evaluation.