eEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA 440/69oo04
April 1990
Office of Water
(WH-550G)
Citizen’s Guide
To Ground-Water
Protect ion
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Citizen's Guide To
Gmund=Water Protection
office of Ground=Water Protection
office of Water
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US Environmental Protection Agency
April 1990
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This documentwas prepared under the direction of Marian M k q Director of the office of
Groun&.w4rtef Protection (oct7w)
and w&en by OGWP Project Manager Jan Gallaghm. .
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CONTENTS
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page
PREFACE .........................................................
v
CHAPTERL Introduction ........................................
1
i
. What Is Ground Mq and Where Does It Come From?
.........................
1
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Wh- Is Ground Wter Stored? .................... :
......................
1
DoesGroundMterMow? ................................................
2
HowIsGroundMterUsed? .............................................
2
CHAPTER= Gmund.MterQuality ...............................
3
How Does Ground Water Become Contaminated? .............................
3
What Kinds of Substances Can Contaminate Ground Waw
What Can Be Done After Contamination Has Occurred? ........................
6
CHAPTER III. Government Ground-Water Protection Activities ...... 8
andWhmDoTheycOmeFrom? .....................................
4
&There F
M
Laws and Pmgq-ams to Protect Ground Water? .................. 8
Do the States Have Laws or Programs to Protect Ground Water? ................... 9
CHAPTER W
. Citizen and Community Roles ....................... 11
What Information Do You and Your Community Need? .........................
11
What bur Community Do to Protect Its Ground Water? .....................
13
H~WCanbuCleanUpburOwnAct? .....................................
17
m c E s
.................................................... 23
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 .Types of Ground-Water Legislation Enacted by the States. 19851987 ....... 27
Appendix 3 . Potenti