Human interaction with groundwater systems : observing perturbations in one of our most important freshwater resources.

Abstract

Groundwater has long been one of the primary sources of freshwater for humans. Most of Earth’s usable freshwater resources are partitioned into groundwater; however, most people do not have a realistic understanding of how groundwater systems function and therefore interact with them in ways that may be highly detrimental to our continued ability to utilize the resource. This dissertation examines multiple facets of human interactions with groundwater systems through three projects, each of which examines a small piece of the greater problems at play in groundwater systems. As the human population of Earth becomes larger and requires more and more water resources groundwater will have an even more integral role to play in providing water to a thirsty population. Understanding more about human interactions with groundwater systems will become increasingly necessary to see the resource protected and available for the future