GROUNDWATER

Water that can be found in the saturated zone of the soil; a zone that consists merely of water. It slowly moves from places with high elevation and pressure to places with low elevation and pressure, such as rivers and lakes. Water that is found universally under the land surface and is a vital component of a complicated hydrologic cycle which includes constant movement around the earth can be considered groundwater. Groundwater has increased in usage as a water supply worldwide due to its sheer abundance. Moreover, an escalated level of irrigated agriculture applications are utilizing groundwater for much of the food production around the world.