Groundwater

Groundwater

Groundwater is water deep under the Earth. It fills the tiny spaces between soil and rocks. This water is very important because it gives us clean fresh water to drink and use.

We get groundwater from rain and other water that soaks into the ground. It can come out naturally in places called springs or seeps. People dig wells to reach this water for drinking, farming, and many other uses.

Groundwater stays under the ground for a very long time. In some places, like the Great Artesian Basin in Australia, it can be more than a million years old! It stays at a steady temperature, which can help keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter.

Groundwater is stored in special layers of rock called aquifers. The level where water fills these spaces is called the water table. Many communities rely on groundwater because it stores more water than all the lakes and reservoirs together, especially in places like the United States.