groundwater

Also ground wa·ter

[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

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.

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

In Afghanistan, widespread use of solar-powered water pumps is lowering the water table, threatening long-term access to groundwater.

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There were also a plethora of household items that contained corrosive acids and toxic ingredients that needed to be collected to prevent them from polluting soil and groundwater.

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The southern state's heavy reliance on groundwater and natural water bodies makes it particularly vulnerable, especially as many ponds and wells are polluted.

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The contaminated water in Kern’s small farming communities reflects chronic problems “tied to agriculture, groundwater contamination, and under-resourced small systems,” the report said.

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Groundwater depletion accounts for two-thirds of the continents’ water losses, contributing to rising oceans.

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