"When precipitation reaches the earth's surface, some of it flows into streams or lakes, some of it is used by plants, some evaporates and returns to the atmosphere, and some soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater."
Groundwater is water found below the earth's surface in soil pore (opening) spaces and cracks in rock structure. The layer of soil and rock in which the water is found is called an aquifer. The depth at which soil becomes completely saturated with water is called the water table.
Around the world, groundwater is pumped or drawn from wells drilled or dug down into aquifers. This water is used for agriculture (farming), domestic (households) and industrial (business) purposes. If it is used at a rate that is slower than that rate at which the aquifer can be replenished (refilled), groundwater can sustain communities for a long time. If groundwater is used at a rate faster than the rate of replenishment, the water table falls and collecting water becomes more difficult.
Complete these questions in your work book:
- How is groundwater stored below the earth's surface and used around the world?
- Compare figure 5.12 (page 110), what are some of the differences between picture A (groundwater in a natural resource) and picture B (Exploited groundwater resource)?
- When does groundwater become classified as a renewable resource?
- Read the SPOTLIGHT section on page 112 about The Great Artesian Basin. Select one of the other aquifers mentioned in the article and create a fact sheet on WORD about it:
- Name of the aquifer?
- How much area does it cover?
- How deep is it?
- Approximately how much water does it contain?
- How does water make its way into this aquifer?
- Include any relevant images/diagrams/maps