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Groundwater Basics

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Aquifers and Groundwater

A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
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Aquifers and Groundwater

A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. But it is only found in usable quantities in certain places underground — aquifers. Read on to understand the concepts of aquifers and how water exists in the ground.
Learn More

Water Basics Questions & Answers

The Earth is covered in water. We find it in the air, under the ground, in our bodies, and most noticeably on Earth's surface. With so much water around us we might begin to ask all the where, when, and why's about water.
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Water Basics Questions & Answers

The Earth is covered in water. We find it in the air, under the ground, in our bodies, and most noticeably on Earth's surface. With so much water around us we might begin to ask all the where, when, and why's about water.
Learn More

Water Q&A: My mom drinks "artesian well water". What is it?

Find out more about artesian groundwater and confined aquifers under pressure.
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Water Q&A: My mom drinks "artesian well water". What is it?

Find out more about artesian groundwater and confined aquifers under pressure.
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Water Q&A: What makes a groundwater well go dry?

Learn about some of the things that can effect water levels in wells.
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Water Q&A: What makes a groundwater well go dry?

Learn about some of the things that can effect water levels in wells.
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Water Basics Information by Topic

Water is everywhere, from huge oceans to invisible water molecules making up water vapor in the air. But how much water is there on, in, above, and below the Earth, and where is it located? Use the topics below to explore the basic concepts and facts about water.
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Water Basics Information by Topic

Water is everywhere, from huge oceans to invisible water molecules making up water vapor in the air. But how much water is there on, in, above, and below the Earth, and where is it located? Use the topics below to explore the basic concepts and facts about water.
Learn More

Water Basics Photo Gallery

Learn about water science using pictures.
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Water Basics Photo Gallery

Learn about water science using pictures.
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Groundwater True/False Quiz

How much do you know about the water below your feet? Take our Groundwater True/False Quiz and find out.
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Groundwater True/False Quiz

How much do you know about the water below your feet? Take our Groundwater True/False Quiz and find out.
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Groundwater: What is Groundwater?

There is an immense amount of water in aquifers below the earth's surface. In fact, there is a over a thousand times more water in the ground than is in all the world's rivers and lakes. Here we introduce you to the basics about groundwater.
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Groundwater: What is Groundwater?

There is an immense amount of water in aquifers below the earth's surface. In fact, there is a over a thousand times more water in the ground than is in all the world's rivers and lakes. Here we introduce you to the basics about groundwater.
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Groundwater Photo Gallery

Learn about groundwater using pictures.
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Groundwater Photo Gallery

Learn about groundwater using pictures.
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Groundwater Flow and the Water Cycle

Yes, water below your feet is moving all the time, but not like rivers flowing below ground. It's more like water in a sponge. Gravity and pressure move water downward and sideways underground through spaces between rocks. Eventually it emerges back to the land surface, into rivers, and into the oceans to keep the water cycle going.
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Groundwater Flow and the Water Cycle

Yes, water below your feet is moving all the time, but not like rivers flowing below ground. It's more like water in a sponge. Gravity and pressure move water downward and sideways underground through spaces between rocks. Eventually it emerges back to the land surface, into rivers, and into the oceans to keep the water cycle going.
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Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle

The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
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Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle

The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Learn More

How Do Hydrologists Locate Groundwater?

As a non-existent proverb states: " Humans don't live by surface water alone. " For thousands of years, people have also relied on groundwater to serve their every need. Groundwater is invaluable for many uses, from irrigation to drinking-water supply. But, you can't see groundwater, so how do water scientists know where it is in order to be able to drill wells and pump it out for use?
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How Do Hydrologists Locate Groundwater?

As a non-existent proverb states: " Humans don't live by surface water alone. " For thousands of years, people have also relied on groundwater to serve their every need. Groundwater is invaluable for many uses, from irrigation to drinking-water supply. But, you can't see groundwater, so how do water scientists know where it is in order to be able to drill wells and pump it out for use?
Learn More
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