ESC1000 - Groundwater

Groundwater

Water filling in the pore space between rocks or soil grains.

Water table

Point closest to the surface where water occurs.

Aquitard

prevents movement of water.

Zone of saturation

area with water.

Zone of aeration

area without water.

Porosity

amount of open space in a rock

Permeability

ability of water to move through the ground.

Aquifer

porous and permeable rocks mostly sand and grains

Spring

place where groundwater reaches the surface.

Hot springs

water that comes from deep in the Earth and reaches the surface.

Geysers

spring where water is heated than exploded outwards.

Well

Deep hole that gives water.

Over pumping

when too much water is pumped to quickly ground subsidence occurs and the ground is no longer supported.

Polluting water

septic tank explosions, pesticides in plants and dumping toxins into the ground.