groundwater

[ ground-waw-ter, -woter ]

noun

1. the water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that has seeped down: the source of water in springs and wells.

groundwater

/ ground′wô′tər /

1. Water that collects or flows beneath the Earth's surface, filling the porous spaces in soil, sediment, and rocks. Groundwater originates from rain and from melting snow and ice and is the source of water for aquifers, springs, and wells. The upper surface of groundwater is the water table .

groundwater

1. Water that seeps through the soil or rocks underground.

Notes

Groundwater can be contaminated by chemical pollutants. ( See water pollution .)

Groundwater is a source of drinking and spring water for many communities.

Word History and Origins

Origin of groundwater¹

First recorded in 1885–90; ground ¹( def ) + water ( def )

Example Sentences

Concern about the upcoming rainy season has been growing among residents living on and near the Portuguese Bend landslide area in Rancho Palos Verdes, because increased rainfall leads to more groundwater — which is the impetus for the ongoing devastating land movement.

From Los Angeles Times

To begin, although fluoride can be a byproduct of industrial processes, it’s also a mineral naturally present in soil, groundwater, plants and food.

From Los Angeles Times

The study assesses the cumulative impact of multiple climate-driven coastal hazards, including sea level rise, flooding, beach erosion, sinking land, and rising groundwater, all of which are expected to worsen significantly by the end of the 21st century.

From Science Daily

Sustainable rates of groundwater withdrawal in Oregon's Harney Basin were surpassed 20 years prior to the time declining groundwater levels were generally recognized, a new analysis found.

From Science Daily

Geological Survey hydrologist developed the model of interactions and feedback between farm irrigation decisions and groundwater levels to better understand the causes and potential solutions to the decline in groundwater.

From Science Daily