Using statistics presented in this chapter, discuss the problem with groundwater contamination in the United States

What will be an ideal response


Answers will vary somewhat, but the basic statistics that should be included, at a minimum, are these:

An EPA survey of 26,000 industrial waste ponds and lagoons found that one-third of them had no liners to prevent toxic wastes from leaking into aquifers. One-third of these sites are within a mile of a drinking water well. Almost two-thirds of America's liquid hazardous wastes are injected into the ground in disposable wells, some of which leak into aquifers used as drinking water sources.

By 2008, the EPA had cleaned up about 357,000 of the more than 479,000 underground tanks that were leaking gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil or toxic solvents into groundwater.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Of the following, the United States is best characterized as a(n)

A) Republic. B) Oligarchy. C) Theocracy. D) Monarchy.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following terms refers to the rate at which temperature decreases with increasing altitude?

A. thermocline B. temperature slope C. lapse rate D. sounding

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The Kissimmee River ecosystem benefited greatly from stream channelization and flood control

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

This conveyor belt contributes to the formation of the most precipitation of a cyclone

A) cold conveyor belt. B) dry conveyor belt. C) warm conveyor belt. D) stratospheric conveyor belt. E) none of the above

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences