FAQ

Do you have a question about the Chesapeake Bay? Explore our list of frequently asked questions to learn more about the Bay and its watershed, habitats and wildlife. You can browse the FAQ by category, or explore the answers to some of our most common questions below.

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Groundwater

  • What is groundwater?

    Groundwater is water that can be found under the earth’s surface, stored in the cracks and spaces between particles of soil, sand and rock.

  • How does groundwater become polluted?

    Groundwater can become contaminated when pollutants on the land seep into underground aquifers.

  • How does polluted groundwater affect the Chesapeake Bay?

    Contaminated groundwater can push pollutants into the Chesapeake Bay. The slow movement of polluted groundwater into the Bay can lengthen the “lag-time” between the adoption of a pollution-reducing practice and the positive effect of that practice on a particular river or stream.

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