Since many aquifers are a current or potential source of drinking water, most Superfund site cleanups try to ensure that ground water quality meets federal and state drinking water standards. Experience has shown that this cleanup process can take anywhere from several years to many decades, depending on the conditions at the site. Sometimes, however, depending on the type of contamination, the ground water cannot be restored. When this happens, the ground water is prevented from moving to uncontaminated areas. At every site, the Superfund Program acts to protect human health and the environment from the effects of hazardous waste contamination.
Aquifers can contain cracked and fractured rocks and other geological variations.
These variations can act as nooks and crannies that hold contaminants or create additional pathways for contaminants to follow. Both situations make removing contaminants difficult. Not all contaminants behave the same in ground water. Different contaminants behave differently in ground water, which can make them hard to locate and remove, complicating cleanup. Some do not mix with or dissolve readily in water.