Skip to main content

Virtual Lab: Groundwater Contamination Simulation Lab 1

Groundwater is one of our most valuable resources—even though you probably never see it or even realize it is there. There is water somewhere beneath your feet no matter where on Earth you live. Groundwater starts as precipitation, just as surface water does, and once water penetrates the ground, it continues moving, sometimes quickly and sometimes very slowly. Eventually, groundwater emerges


Something to Think About: 

We rely on groundwater - it's the water we drink, the water that grows our food, the water that helps recharge our lakes and rivers. While some groundwater contaminants are naturally occurring, unfortunately, the majority of groundwater contamination is the result of human activity.

  • Groundwater Contamination
  • Overuse & Depletion
  • Nitrates
  • Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products
  • Improperly managed on-site wastewater treatment systems

Vocabulary you need to know:
Water Table Confined Aquifer Unconfined Aquifer
Artesian Well Laminar Flow Discharge Area
Point Source Pollution Non-Point Source Pollution
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
Best Management Practices (BMPs)


Starting the Lab 

Link to Virtual Lab: Groundwater Contamination Simulation Lab 1 student page

Groundwater-model.gif


Make a copy of the Groundwater Contamination Simulation Lab 1 student page.

Once you have a copy of the lab, use the links below to complete the lab. 

 

Well 1 Contamination   Well 2 Contamination Well 3 Contamination Well 4 Contamination
Well 5 Contamination Well 6 Contamination Well 7 Contamination Well 8 Contamination
Underground Storage Container Lake Septic Tank

 


 

 Additional Resources:
  • For a more complete list of different contaminates check out the USGS website linked here.
  • Groundwater Contamination can be difficult to remediate; the following link is how one company tackles the issue. Regenesis

Purdue University College of Science, 475 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907 • Phone: (765) 494-1729, Fax: (765) 494-1736

Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Student Advising Office: (765) 494-1771, Fax: (765) 496-3015 • Science IT: (765) 494-4488

© 2024 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | DOE Degree Scorecards

Trouble with this page? Accessibility issues? Please contact the College of Science.