An assessment of health aspects of the impact of domestic and industrial waste disposal activities on groundwater resources: Literature Review

Abstract

Although groundwater only contributes about 15% to South Africa's water supply at present, it is of great importance when one considers that more than 280 towns and villages use groundwater for water supply. This represents towns and settlements spread over about 65% of the area of South Africa. One of the great benefits of groundwater is that it can frequently be obtained close to the point of use. Treatment of drinking water, on the other hand, is not cost effective for scattered rural communities. Consequently the approach should be to prevent contamination in the first place. The transmission of hazardous chemical substances and infectious diseases through contaminated drinking water has been a frequent and well-documented occurrence in the past. Any disease caused by drinking contaminated water can be transmitted through groundwater if the disease causing agent reaches the water source in infective doses to cause the specific illness. Some contaminants are more likely than others to be present in groundwater with the result that some waterborne diseases occur more frequently.

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