Hello Aspirant,

Difference between surface water and groundwater is given below:-

• Surface water is usually not very high in mineral content while, Ground water commonly contains less contamination than surface water because the rock tends to act as a filter to remove some contaminants.
• Surface Water is called as soft water due the presence of very less mineral content while Ground Water is called as hard water due the presence of high mineral content.
• Surface water is the water which is found on the surface of the earth such as in a river, lake or other surface cavities While, Groundwater is water the contained in or by a subsurface layer of soil or rock.

Factors responsible for degradation of water:

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides:

• The chemical fertilizers that used in the agricultural lands, the stormwater pollutants which can easily degrade the quality of water.
• At the time of raining, these nutients will flow with the rain water. And the nutrients can cause the growth of algae, so the oxygen will be easily used by those alage.

Industrial waste:

• The waste from industries have substances having the suspended or dissolved in water.
• After treatment, the industrial wastewate will be released to the sanitary sewer in the environment.

Marine dumping :

• The garbage which produced by the household activities in the form of the rubber, plastic, paper, aluminum, glass, food. These are collected and deposited in the sea from some of the countries.

Sewage and Waste water:

• The sewage and waste water has pathogens, heavy metals, toxic wastes, worm like parasites, oils etc,.
• The sewage waters are collected from the pipes of homes into cesspits or septic tanks.
• These water are mixed with rivers, lakes and those water on rivers and lakes get contaminated.

I hope this information will helpful for you.

Feel free to ask any query.

All the best for your bright future ahead.