Answer
When groundwater is heavily pumped at a coastal site, a significant problem that may arise is saltwater intrusion. In coastal areas, there is often a boundary between freshwater and saltwater, known as the freshwater-saltwater interface. Excessive pumping of freshwater from coastal aquifers can create a cone of depression in the water table, drawing in saline seawater into the aquifer. This intrusion of saltwater can contaminate the freshwater resource, making it unsuitable for drinking or irrigation purposes and exacerbating the water scarcity issue.
Work Step by Step
Please refer to the answer above.
