Groundwater Mirpulat Nigora JEK-411 F

Ground Water lies beneath the ground surface, filling pores in sediments and sedimentary rocks and fractures in other rock types Represents 0.6% of the hydrosphere (35x the water in all lakes and rivers combined) Resupplied by slow infiltration of precipitation Generally cleaner than surface water Accessed by wells

Groundwater is used for drinking water by more than 50 percent of the people in the United States, including almost everyone who lives in rural areas. The largest use for groundwater is to irrigate crops.

Aquifers typically consist of gravel, sand, sandstone, or fractured rock such as limestone. These types of materials are permeable because they have large connected spaces that allow water to flow through. The spaces in a gravel aquifer are called pores. The spaces in a fractured rock aquifer are called fractures. If a material contains pores that are not connected, ground water cannot move from one space to another. These materials are said to be impermeable.

Aquifers The huge Ogallala aquifer lies beneath the plains of the west, from S. Dakota to Texas. It provides drinking water and water for crops and livestock.

Wells People can obtain groundwater from an aquifer by drilling a well below the water table.

Ground Water Contamination Infiltrating water may bring contaminants down to the water table, including (but not limited to): Pharmaceuticals Pesticides/herbicides Fertilizers Feed lots Mercury and gold mining Landfill pollutants Heavy metals Bacteria, viruses and parasites from sewage Industrial chemicals (PCBs, TCE) Acid mine drainage Radioactive waste Oil and gasoline