What could be a consequence of excessive water draw from an aquifer?

Study for the Water Treatment Class E Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question features hints and explanations. Get ready for your certification exam!

Excessive water draw from an aquifer can indeed lead to lower water quality due to seawater infiltration. This situation typically occurs in coastal areas where the natural balance between freshwater and seawater is disrupted. When too much freshwater is extracted from an aquifer, the pressure that keeps seawater at bay is lowered. As a result, seawater can move into the aquifer, contaminating the freshwater supply. This can lead to increased salinity levels and make the water unsuitable for drinking or irrigation without additional treatment.

The other options are not direct consequences of excessive water extraction. For instance, increasing water storage capacity or improving irrigation effectiveness would typically require careful management and might not result from over-extraction. Additionally, while reduced land development potential could arise from water scarcity, it is not directly linked to water quality changes in the same way that seawater intrusion is. Consequently, seawater infiltration is a significant and well-documented issue related to the excessive pumping of aquifers.

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