Basics of Groundwater (Well Water)

The hydrologic cycle begins with rain falling to the ground in which about 30% of that water infiltrates into the local geology and is called groundwater. Groundwater is often called well water when used by private residents for drinking and other domestic uses. Well water can be a mix of groundwater that has been on the move in the surrounding geology for a short (days) or long (thousands of years) period of time. Movement of groundwater depends on the type of rock layers, known as aquifers, transmitting or containing the groundwater.