FIGURE 26.6 Saltwater intrusion. (a) When there are few wells along a coastline, the water table remains high and the resulting pressure prevents salt water from intruding. (b) Rapid pumping of wells drilled in aquifers along a coastline can lower the water table. Lowering the water table reduces water pressure in the aquifer, allowing the nearby salt water to move into the aquifer and contaminate the well water with salt.