Groundwater

Front

What is groundwater?

Back

Water that is found underground in aquifers, filling the spaces between soil particles and rock.

Front

What is a point source pollutant?

Back

A contaminant that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or a ditch.

Front

What is a non-point source pollutant?

Back

Pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources, making it hard to identify the exact origin.

Front

What is permeability in soil?

Back

The ability of soil to transmit water through its pores.

Front

Which type of soil has the highest permeability?

Back

Sand, due to its larger particle size and greater space between particles.

Front

What is the water table?

Back

The top of the saturated zone in an aquifer, where the soil or rock is fully saturated with water.

Front

What is infiltration?

Back

The process by which water seeps into the ground and becomes part of the groundwater supply.

Front

What is an aquifer?

Back

A geological formation that can store and transmit water, often tapped for drinking water.

Front

What is the saturated zone?

Back

The area in an aquifer where all the spaces are filled with water.

Front

What is the unsaturated zone?

Back

The area above the water table where soil and rock contain air spaces and some water.