ABSTRACT
Groundwater quality refers to the type and concentration of constituents in a given source of groundwater. Constituents in groundwater may originate from the natural environment with which the groundwater comes in contact, or may be introduced as pollutants from external sources. Constituents can be dissolved solids and gases, suspended solids, hydrogen ions, and microorganisms. There is wide variation in the chemical and biological constituents in groundwater due to the differing qualities of water that recharge groundwater, and due to the different environments through which groundwater passes. The unique polar nature of the water molecule makes it a ready solvent, with the capacity to dissolve many solid-phase minerals into solution, and many of the elements comprising the subsurface environment dissolve into ground water.
