What does protecting groundwater aim to prevent?

Protecting groundwater primarily aims to prevent contamination of aquifers saturated with water. Aquifers act as natural reservoirs that supply water for drinking, irrigation, and other uses. If contaminants, such as pesticides, heavy metals, or microbial pathogens, seep into these underground sources, they can compromise the quality of the water and pose serious health risks to humans and ecosystems. Therefore, safeguarding groundwater ensures the integrity of these vital water sources, ensuring they remain clean and safe for consumption.

The other options, while related to water management and conservation, do not directly pertain to the primary objective of groundwater protection. For instance, evaporation concerns surface water, rather than the underground sources themselves. Surface water runoff involves the flow of water over land, which is more about managing surface water bodies like lakes rather than underground aquifers. Excessive pumping of wells can lead to depletion of groundwater resources but does not specifically address the issue of contamination, which is crucial to groundwater protection efforts.