Groundwater
By: Chelsea Radford
What is groundwater?
Groundwater is the water that is held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock.
Porosity and Permeability
- Porosity is how much space is open in the rocks, sand etc
- Permeability is the ability for another substance to pass through it
This affects the presence of groundwater by controlling how much water is able to pass through the ground. This also depicts how much of that water becomes groundwater depending on the amount of space there is.
Porosity
Permeability
Working Together
Water Table
Picture shows the following:
Zone of Aeriation: region in the ground in which pore spaces are filled with air, and sometimes water
Zone of Saturation: area beneath the water table where all pore spaces are completely filled with water
Water Table: level below the ground in which the ground is saturated with water
Aquiclude: body of rock or stratum of sediment that acts as a barrier to the flow of groundwater
Aquifer: body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater
Types of Aquifers
Unconfined Aquifer: water seeps into the ground directly above the aquifer
Confined Aquifer: impermeable rock layer exists that prevents the water from seeping into the ground above the aquifer
Causes of Depleting Groundwater
- Lowering the water table
- Increased cost for the user
- Land subsidence
- Deterioration of water quality
We should really be more appreciative that we have access to groundwater. This resource shouldn't be taken advantage of by over pumping, wasting water. There are some people who get little, or no water at all.