One type of contamination of groundwater in coastal areas is caused by seawater intrusion.  Drinking water can become too salty to taste and water containing salt levels of 250 mg/l (ppm) or over could potentially cause health problems.  Chloride-rich water will corrode metal pipes, cause leaching, can reduce the lifespan of your plumbing, and will kill some varieties of plant life such as lawn grasses.

    For the individual property owner, seawater intrusion is remedied by stepping down or reducing your rates of pumping, especially for watering lawns and washing cars.  If no improvement is noticed, stop pumping altogether for several weeks, obviously necessitating an alternative source of drinking water.  If problems persist, you might consider ceasing to use the well and investing in a low flow alternative water system.  For public policy makers, solutions would involve better planning and management of drinking water sources and distribution systems.

• How does salt water "intrusion" occur?
• In the areas where these problems exist (e.g., Cape Cod, Long Island), what are some of the remedial activities that have taken place in recent years?
• Is is possible that further land development might be curbed due to shortages of potable water?  How would such agreements be reached publicly?
• Who are the stakeholders in such controversies?