What is water that flows through permeable rocks and soil called?

• A. Surface water
• B. Groundwater
• C. Rainwater
• D. River water

Answer: (B)

Groundwater is water that moves through permeable rocks and soil beneath the surface. It fills the spaces in soil and rock (pores and cracks) and flows slowly under gravity, often through formations called aquifers. This water originates when rain infiltrates the ground and percolates downward rather than running off the surface. Groundwater can rise again as springs or be drawn up from wells, and it is a key part of the freshwater supply in many areas.

This differs from surface water, which sits in rivers, lakes, and streams on the ground’s surface; rainwater refers to precipitation that falls from the sky; and river water is water found in rivers, a form of surface water. So the water flowing through permeable rocks and soil specifically describes groundwater.