The Water Table

What is Water?  The chemical formula for water is: H2O.  There are 2 hydrogen atoms fro every 1 oxygen atom.  One part of the molecule (hydrogen) has a slightly positive charge and the other (oxygen) has a slightly negative charge.

 The charge causes each water molecule to act like a tiny magnet.  The magnetic charge affects how water behaves underground!

The Water Table  The water cycle affects how much water we have available to us:  When rain strikes the ground the water molecules act like magnets to the soil causing the water to spread outward.

Importance of Percolation:  Gravity pulls the water down into the earth, dissolving salts and minerals as it moves through the soil  this is percolation!  Water eventually reaches the aquitard: a layer that will not allow water to pass through quickly enough to use as a water source.

Zones of the Water Table  As more rain falls the layer above the aquitard becomes completely full with water.  This is called the Zone of Saturation.  The upper layer of the Zone of Saturation is the Water Table.  Above the Zone of Saturation, is the Zone of Aeration which is found in the upper soil layers that hold both air and water.  An aquifer is a large acculumlation of water in soil or rock.

Zones of the Water Table

Layers of the Water Table

Water Table Questions Complete Questions 1 – 4 from the text book on Page 217.