Geogenic contamination

Contamination in drinking water, both chemical and microbiological, can originate from a range of sources, most of which are anthropogenic, such as agriculture, industry or human settlements (Fig. 2.1). As the name suggests, geogenic contamination derives from geological sources. It stems from interactions between aquifer rocks and groundwater that lead to the release of substances from the aquifer rock or sediment into the water. Such interactions are always taking place – in fact, rocks and sediments largely control water chemistry – but if a particular substance is released in quantities that are high enough to have a detrimental effect on life forms, then it is termed a geogenic contaminant.

You can find the complete handbook chapter about geogenic contamination here.