Water Table

Intermediate 🎓 Education / Academia

Definition

The level below the earth's surface where groundwater naturally occurs and saturates the soil and rock, marking the upper boundary of the water-bearing zone. It fluctuates seasonally based on rainfall and groundwater extraction.

Example Usage

The well had to be drilled 30 feet deep to reach the water table.

Origin

Compound of 'water' and 'table,' using 'table' in the geological sense of a layer or horizontal plane.

Fun Fact

In some regions, the water table has dropped significantly due to overuse of groundwater for agriculture and industry, affecting freshwater availability.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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