ABSTRACT
Water is an essential and the most critical natural resource on Earth on which all social, economic, and ecosystem functions depend. It is currently being threatened by development, overuse, and other human activities. The scarcity and quality of the freshwater are likely to be the most challenging issues to be faced by mankind in the near future. Among various available freshwater resources, groundwater often provides a water supply that is more reliable in terms of quantity and quality as compared with surface water. Groundwater drawn from deep aquifers was assumed to be free from microbial contamination and has economic and operational advantages owing to reduced treatment requirements [1]. Thus, it accounts for a signicant portion of drinking water supply in many countries worldwide [2]. In India, >80% of the rural water supplies are obtained from groundwater. Over the years, a number of quantitative and qualitative changes have occurred in groundwater
CONTENTS
19.1 Introduction to Groundwater Pollution .......................................................................... 377 19.2 Search for Affordable Treatment Options ...................................................................... 378 19.3 Fluoride: A Global Groundwater Threat ........................................................................ 379
19.3.1 Fluoride-Free Water: Solution and Challenges .................................................. 381 19.3.2 Overview of Deuoridation Technologies ......................................................... 381
19.4 Deuoridation of Water Using Nanoscale Materials .................................................... 382 19.4.1 Metals and Metal Oxides/Hydroxides/Oxyhydroxide ....................................383
