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Chapter 9: Problem 13

Are groundwater resources independent of surface supplies, or are the two interrelated? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Groundwater resources and surface water supplies are interrelated. They interact with one another through the hydrological cycle. Groundwater can feed into surface water and vice versa, depending on the conditions present.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Groundwater

Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand, and rocks called aquifers.
02

Understanding Surface Water

Surface water is the water that collects on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean. It is related to water that is on the surface of the earth.
03

How are they related?

Groundwater and surface water are not independent of each other. They are interrelated. Water flows in the hydrological cycle between the atmosphere, the ground and bodies of water on the surface. Groundwater can feed into surface water sources when the water table reaches the ground surface. This can be seen in springs, where groundwater discharges into bodies of surface water. Similarly, surface water can also recharge groundwater, for instance, when a river or lake infiltrates into the ground replenishing the water in the aquifer.

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