Due to its complex geological history, New York has four types of aquifers. Contaminants from the surface can move rather quickly and reappear in water supplies miles from their source. Touring a cavern gives us a good picture of karst. Imagine you are actually inside the groundwater system, touring a portion of an aquifer, where all the cracks and crevices were once completely filled with water. As the limestone beneath the soil was dissolved to form the cave, the overlying soil settled or collapsed to form sinkholes.
Water entering the ground through sinkholes can carry soil, organic debris, and pollutants.
This surface water becomes part of the groundwater flow system. Contaminated water draining through a sinkhole in turn pollutes groundwater that wells and springs draw from. Sinkholes are environmentally sensitive areas and should never be used as dump sites. Sinkholes which have been used as dumps should be cleaned out to prevent any further contamination of the groundwater. Treat sinkholes with care.