Urban groundwater pollution in Turkey - A national review of urban groundwater quality issues

Groundwater pollution in Turkey is examined. Important natural sources of groundwater pollution identified include seawater intrusion, discharges from contaminated lakes and streams, geothermal waters, and dissolution of minerals. The major sources of anthropogenic groundwater contamination identified are: agricultural pesticides and fertilizers; mining waste products; industrial waste; on-site septic tank systems; and pollution from poorly constructed wells. Although industrial waste and on-site septic tanks are important sources of anthropogenic pollution, because agricultural activities are very significant contributors to the Turkish economy, pollution from pesticides and fertilizers poses the larger threat.