Groundwater pollution
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![Schematic showing that there is a lower risk of groundwater pollution with greater depth of the water well[1]](/uploads/202501/16/Safer_siting_of_sanitation_systems_-_schematic1813.jpg)
Groundwater pollution (also called groundwater contamination) occurs when pollutants are released to the ground and make their way down into groundwater. It can also occur naturally due to the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent, contaminant or impurity in the groundwater, in which case it is more likely referred to as contamination rather than pollution.