What effects can fluctuations in groundwater have?
If groundwater rises above the normal level, this can have negative impacts on infrastructure and farming. Buildings can also suffer from damp. In general existing drainage systems regulate the level of groundwater so as to prevent damage. If groundwater falls below the normal level, the foundations of buildings constructed on soft soil can begin to settle. A drop in the groundwater level will not affect buildings with foundations on hard soil or rock. In weak soils, as opposed to coarse soil, a fall in the groundwater level does not take place very suddenly, owing to their poor penetrability. A drop in the groundwater level is also commonly the reason why wells run dry.
