Ground Water

Ground Water • Any water that seeps under the surface of the Earth

• Important source of drinking water

• Divided into 2 zones

Zone of Aeration • Upper zone that allows water to pass through it

Zone of Saturation • Lower zone that traps the water in spaces between the rocks

Water Table • The boundary between the 2 zones

• If the water table reaches the surface, it will form a lake

Aquifer • Layer of rocks that allow water to collect in it and flow through it

• Found in the Zone of Saturation

Porosity • Determined by the open spaces between rocks

• Bigger rocks have bigger openings = high porosity

• Smaller rocks have smaller openings = low porosity

Permeability • The ability to let fluids pass through

• Zone of Aeration is permeable

• Something that does not allow water to pass through is Impermeable

Springs • Water that naturally flows out of the Earths surface

• Important source of drinking water for most of the human population

Wells • Man-made hole for the purpose of getting ground water

Point Source Pollution

• Pollution from a single identifiable source

• Often occurs due to factory, waste treatment plants discharge pollution before it is cleaned

• Examples: oil spills, manufacturing plants, chemical plants

• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Clean Water Act

Nonpoint Source Pollution

• Pollution from several locations that are not easily identified

• Occurs often due to runoff picking up pollution on the ground and moving it to a water source

• Examples: gas and oil from parking lots, animal waste from farms, fertilizers

• Not much being done but scientists are starting for focus on it

Nonpoint or Point Source?