ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of some critical hydrologic and engineering facts faced by making decisions affecting liability and groundwater supplies. It explores methods by which groundwater quality can be protected through individual decisions that encourage cost effective and creative responses to environmental protection. The chapter discusses the nature and importance of the groundwater resource. It also discusses groundwater pollution problems, including sources and means of contamination. The chapter also explores methods of remediation and analyzes market-oriented alternatives for protecting groundwater quality. "A tracer is matter or energy carried by ground water which will give information concerning the direction of movement and/or velocity of the water and potential contaminants which might be transported by the water". Water quality can be evaluated in numerous dimensions, including temperature, chemical species present, biological components, radioactive substances, color, taste, odor. The interactive effects between toxics needs to be identified, since a number of toxic substances may be present together (particularly in landfills).
