What Influences Water Quality and Quality

Water quality is influenced by plants, geology, climate, natural and human disturbance. While we may not be able to influence what occurs naturally, we can make a difference on our water quality.

The availability of water (water quantity) is reduced when more water is removed from an aquifer or a surface water body than is replaced through ground water recharge, snow melt, springs, irrigation flows, or precipitation. When much more is used than can be replaced, the water table drops, and wells, streams and lakes can go dry. In coastal areas, excessive pumping may pull seawater into the groundwater and make wells unusable.