What is a major consequence of excessive nutrient discharge into groundwater?

Excessive nutrient discharge into groundwater primarily leads to groundwater pollution. When nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff or wastewater, infiltrate the groundwater system, they can contribute to a variety of adverse environmental and health effects. High concentrations of these nutrients can promote algal blooms in surface waters, leading to eutrophication. This process depletes oxygen in the water, harming aquatic life and disrupting ecosystems.

Groundwater itself can also become contaminated with pathogens, chemicals, and heavy metals when nutrient levels are excessively high, posing risks to human health. Therefore, groundwater pollution as a consequence of nutrient discharge is a significant environmental issue, affecting drinking water supplies and the overall quality of water resources.