Groundwater Explained
Water stored underground in soil and rock — a hidden supply that feeds wells, springs, and rivers.
Groundwater is water stored underground in the pores and cracks of soil and rock. Where enough water can be pumped for use, that formation is called an aquifer. Wells, springs, and many rivers depend on it.
Groundwater is water that fills pores and cracks beneath the surface. When a permeable layer can yield useful amounts of water, it is called an aquifer.
Key Ideas
- Recharge from rain and rivers
- Discharge to springs and streams
- Wells that pump aquifers
- Fossil groundwater that recharges very slowly
Over-pumping can lower water tables, dry springs, and cause land subsidence in some regions.
Protection
Protecting recharge areas and limiting pollution of aquifers is essential because cleanup of groundwater is slow and expensive.
Out of sight does not mean unlimited — groundwater is a shared, finite resource.