National Groundwater Awareness Week

The Hydrologic Cycle

The idea of separate water bodies on this earth (oceans, lakes, streams, underground and atmospheric) is a myth.

In truth, all water is related to what is called the hydrologic cycle (https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/permitting/watersupply/groundwater/maps/LandUseWaterCycl e.pdf) in which constant interaction exists between all sources.

Contaminating one water source can lead to the contamination of others.

The hydrologic cycle begins when the process of evaporation releases water vapor into the atmosphere. The vapor condenses as it forms into clouds.

This water returns to the ground through precipitation – rain. Water runoff soaks into the soil, penetrating deep into the ground until it becomes groundwater, which is found in aquifers below the surface.

We come into contact with groundwater when it is pumped for uses such as irrigation and drinking water or when it discharges into a lake or stream.