Issues which can be potential problems are discussed such as toxic chemicals, tire dumps, and soil erosion. Ground water Ground water is the water found below the earth's surface where holes, cracks and spaces between rocks and soil are filled with water. Forty-eight percent of the population in the State of Indiana is served by public drinking water systems depend on ground water. In addition to public water systems, more than 500,000 Indiana homes use private wells and ground water systems for their water supply. Once contaminated, ground water is difficult to clean, requiring many years and great expense.
Some ground water is more susceptible to contamination because of the soils and rock composition.
Ground water sensitivity indexes, are valuable tools in source water assessments for community public water supply systems. They help define the relationship between geology and ground water and provide a better understanding of the flow system between ground and water. This is based on the composition of clay and other materials that are in and above the aquifer. The depth of the aquifer is also part of the criteria developed to identify susceptibility. The Whitewater River and Ohio River are identified as impaired rivers in Dearborn County.