The groundwater is those that are below the earth’s surface. The Water of the subsoil They are a part of the total fresh water on the planet. They suppose 21% of total fresh water on Earth and also twenty times more of the water on the surface. If you want to know How are groundwater formedthen read this article because in Ecology Verde we discover the answer, as well as details such as its location and classification, its importance and also the reason for why, in turn, they are part of a big environmental problem.
How are groundwater formed – definition and their origin
Water from rain can go to different destinations. It may either run through the surface forming rivers, streams or other forms of runoff, absorbing by organisms or, Water can be filtered on the ground and form groundwater.
As Definition of groundwater We can say that these include All kinds of water found in the subsoil. So that the water can be introduced into the ground, this must have a series of characteristics. There are permeable soils, which let the water pass, such as sands and stones, and waterproof soils such as volcanic and metamorphic rocks.
Water, once the subsoil reaches can accumulate in different ways and different depths and even erode the rock creating an underground landscape. In addition, they have one great ecological and economic importance For human beings, and precisely because of this they are also suffering the negative consequences of man’s action. All this is explained below in more detail.
Where are the groundwater
A type of groundwater is Gravitational water. Gravitational water is the water found in the pores of the earth. Sandy and stony soils contain more pores due to the large size of the grain they have and leave hollows with air that when it rains they fill with water by infiltration in the field and is stored.
If more water is accumulated we can differentiate 3 types of water reservoirs: Aquícludos, Acuitrados and aquifers. The aquícludes are deposits of alms and clays that contain water, but due to their low permeability this cannot be moved or extracted. The aquitors are geological formations, usually of clay sand, sandstones or rocks little fractured and compressed that contain a lot of water, which can circulate, but slowly. And finally the aquifers are geological formations of sands, gravel or other fragmented or cracking rocks that contain a large amount of water that can be moved freely.
Generally, they are distinguished 3 types of aquifers:
- Free aquifers: They are those whose water level is in contact with the atmosphere and the same pressure. The non -saturated area are distinguished, which is an area of the land that has no water but could be filled, and the water table that is the area of the terrain to which the water contained in the aquifer arrives. The non -saturated area is between the earth’s surface and the water table.
- Confined aquifers: They are those that are between waterproof rocks filling all pores and cracks with water. In these aquifers there is no saturation zone. In them the pressure exerted by rocks is greater than atmospheric pressure and, therefore, if water was extracted, the terrain could collapse and produce the sinking of the earth’s surface.
- Semi -confined aquifers: They are those that are between semipermeable rocks, such as aquitors, and waterproof rocks.
Groundwater emerge to the surface by springs or lakes due to infiltration on the surface of the land. In these cases, groundwater flows to the lakes by springs below the lake surface. It may be that the lakes originate from their bottom when the groundwater emerges, or that the aquifer is recharged by the movement of rainwater and thaw, accumulated in the lakes, towards the interior of the earth, and also maintains the lake because the water table of the aquifer is above the soil surface. Fossil water is one that is in aquifers that has not recharged a long time.
The subsoil water has different characteristics of that of rivers, lakes and lagoons, wetlands, estuaries and other types of surface waters. They do not usually contain dissolved gases, they are under pressure and normally move slowly between the rocks, although the fractures between them usually provide channels where the water flows at high speed.
Importance of groundwater
When groundwater run through soils formed by limestone rock they dissolve the material and form The karst landscape. Some typical formations are caves, stalactites, stalagmites, simas and galleries among others. They provide shelter to animals, such as bats or many invertebrates, which in turn are food of other animals. These spaces are also exploited by man to practice sports such as speleology or adventure tourism.
In addition, groundwater when circulating through caves or through sands and gravels can drag living material such as bacteria, and animals such as small crustaceans and insects that feed on bacteria.
Groundwater represent one of the most important water supplies For the population. The subsoil water is a source of drinking water. It is often obtained from springs and wells, natural or artificial. About 50% of the human population is supplied with groundwater and is used for both human consumption and livestock and agriculture. It is so important that, for example, in the United States, 95% of the rural population depends on them.
Environmental problem of groundwater
Groundwater can be easily contaminated Due to their slow movement since they are out of view of the view.
In addition, water tends not to mix, so salt or contaminated feathers can move over long distances. Contaminating volatile substances contained in them cannot evaporate.
Water pollution can occur naturally, since water moving along the rocks can drag the toxic substances they contain, like some metals. But the most common form of contamination is anthropic, that is to say for the human being. It may be due to the use of pesticides and fertilizers in areas of agriculture, wastewater and without treating in urban and industrial areas and the increase in nitrate levels. The latter is one of the most worrisome because once the subsoil reaches it becomes other compounds that can cause health and disease problems, such as cancer when this water is ingested.
One of the big problems is Overexploitation of groundwater. It occurs when the water is extracted at a higher speed than is replenished. The overexploitation of an aquifer can suppose:
- The pressure reduction that are supporting the groundwater masses and therefore will decrease their pressure (arts pressure) of extraction.
- It can cause the surface of the land.
- It causes water intrusions, either of other nearby or ocean aquifers if they are close to the coast, therefore, the quality of the waters is reduced.
- It contributes to desertification. It decreases the amount of water outcrops on the earth’s surface and the water table.
Now that you know well what underground waters are, how they form and their importance, as well as the environmental problems that are related to them, you may also be interested in knowing the information of this other ecology article about why water is a renewable but limited resource.
If you want to read more articles similar to How are groundwater formedwe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.
