What is groundwater?

Groundwater is the potable water stored underground These water resources can be confined by surrounding impermeable rocks, or because of the permeability of surrounding rocks, gravel, soil and other materials About 20% of the earth's fresh water resources are groundwater, and groundwater accounts for a large part of the world's drinking water 50% of the world's population relies on groundwater as a source of drinking water, bathing, industrial production and other applications The formation of groundwater is caused by many factors For example, rainfall is absorbed by the ground and converted into groundwater storage Runoff from rivers, streams and lakes also affects groundwater The storage capacity of groundwater will also increase due to snow melting and glacier melting, and there will be seasonal changes, such as the increase of groundwater in spring due to more rain, and the decrease of groundwater in autumn due to less rain When a groundwater can be used as a sustainable water source for human beings, it is called aquifer (or aquifer) Many people are trying to find persistent aquifers because the quality of the ground water is better The risk of aquifer pollution is small and it is safe drinking water But in non aquifer, water will be polluted by chemicals, biological agents, feces and other substances, so it is not ideal drinking water One of the most common methods to obtain groundwater is the well The water well should be drilled into the underground water, and the water can be lifted to the surface by pressurization, which is convenient for people to use You can also, as in the past, put buckets into wells to lift water Another way is to get groundwater through springs, which are periodic fresh groundwater with bubbles In ancient times, settlements were often built next to springs, which saved the cost of digging wells Sometimes, water resources run out This occurs when the aquifer is depleted and no water is available Drilling deeper can sometimes solve problems On the other hand, spring or well water may be refilled after aquifer recovery In many places, abandoned wells are considered a safety hazard because lack of maintenance can cause people and animals to fall into uncovered wells.