Alabama Water Quality Information System

— Choose a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) —


	1.-		Can altering surface drainage and flow around or into sinkholes affect groundwater supplies in karst terrain?


	2.-		Can collapses and formation of sinkholes in karst landscapes be avoided?


	3.-		Can excessive pumping of underground water cause a sinkhole to form?


	4.-		Can locations for potential sinkholes be accurately predicted in karst areas?


	5.-		Can pumping of ground water cause land subsidence?


	6.-		Does open-pit quarrying in karst areas increase the likelihood of sinkhole formation?


	7.-		How can overdrafting of groundwater cause problems?


	8.-		How does groundwater move though karst terrain (sinkhole areas)?


	9.-		How much of the world’s land surface is covered by karst landscapes?


	10.-		How should I manage a sinkhole on my personal property?


	11.-		In which states are sinkholes more commonly found in the United States?


	12.-		Is ground water more susceptible to pollution in areas with sinkholes?


	13.-		Is karst terrain more dangerous for high density development than other areas?


	14.-		Is open-pit quarrying in karst areas essential to the U.S. economy?


	15.-		Since there are a number of risks associated with sinkholes, can they be sealed?


	16.-		What is a sinkhole?


	17.-		Why do we allow open-pit quarrying in karst areas to continue if these areas are so environmentally sensitive?

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This website was developed by the ACES Water Quality Team, under the leadership of Dr. James E. Hairston. It is funded, in part, by USDA-CSREES water quality grant support under Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998.