The Process of Saltwater Intrusion
Detailed Description
The Process of Saltwater Intrusion: The figure above illustrates how the process of saltwater intrusion into an aquifer system can occur. The boundary between fresh groundwater and saline groundwater is referred to as the freshwater/saltwater interface. Fresh groundwater discharging to the coast prevents the landward encroachment of saline groundwater. If this balance is upset by too much water being removed from the aquifer system from pumping, then saline groundwater can migrate landward by a process referred to as “saltwater intrusion”. If a pumping well is close to the landward migrating freshwater/saltwater interface, the potential exists for saltwater contamination in the well. (Public domain)
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.
Related
Saltwater Intrusion
Saltwater intrusion has occurred to some degree in many of the coastal aquifers of the United States. Since saltwater cannot be used to irrigate crops or be consumed by people, saltwater intrusion can be very problematic to coastal communities that rely on fresh groundwater supplies for the livelihood. The USGS studies how excessive groundwater pumping, sea level rise, and other factors contribute...
Related
Saltwater Intrusion
Saltwater intrusion has occurred to some degree in many of the coastal aquifers of the United States. Since saltwater cannot be used to irrigate crops or be consumed by people, saltwater intrusion can be very problematic to coastal communities that rely on fresh groundwater supplies for the livelihood. The USGS studies how excessive groundwater pumping, sea level rise, and other factors contribute...