Both groundwater from places like wells and surface water from places like rivers and lakes are crucial when it comes to meeting human needs for potable and recreational water. Groundwater, aquifers and surface water quality have become more of a worry in recent years due to reports of bacteria, nitrogen, chemicals, and other contaminants .

Water contamination in the aquifers might be caused by agricultural pesticides due to their potential for runoff into surface waterways and penetration into groundwater. Human health and environmental integrity are both vulnerable to the effects of contaminated groundwater and surface water. Since almost 75% of Minnesotans rely on groundwater as their source of drinking water, protecting this resource is critical to the state’s public health .

Nitrate poisoning of groundwater may be dangerous to the health of communities who depend on that water supply. Nitrate levels in drinking water may be too high in locations with contaminated groundwater. There is a higher chance of additional pollutants, such bacteria or pesticides, being present in water with excessive nitrate levels. Once the threshold is crossed, it may be difficult to get the contamination levels back down to acceptable levels. Because of this, it is crucial to take precautions in places with aquifers that are susceptible to pollution to avoid the groundwater supply from becoming tainted.

Uncontrolled agricultural activities are a major source of groundwater contamination. Pesticides, fertilizers, animal feaces, and subterranean storage tanks are just some of the potential sources of contamination on a farm. Using BMPs, farmers may maximize agricultural yields while also preventing groundwater contamination. Many BMPs are inexpensive to adopt and may even end up saving money on operating expenses. Best management practices (BMPs) are most successful when implemented continuously throughout time.

Below are some methods that may be used to lessen the likelihood of aquifer pollution.