1. Precipitation: Water falls to the Earth's surface in the form of rain, snow, etc.
2. Infiltration: Some of this precipitation soaks into the ground, a process called infiltration. The amount that infiltrates depends on factors like soil type, vegetation, and the ground's slope.
3. Percolation: The infiltrated water moves downward through the soil and rock layers, a process called percolation.
4. Groundwater Zone: This downward movement continues until it reaches a zone where the rock and soil are saturated with water, called the groundwater zone or aquifer.
5. Groundwater Storage: The saturated zone acts as a reservoir for groundwater. This water is constantly replenished by precipitation and can be accessed through wells.
In short, groundwater is essentially rainwater that has seeped into the ground and is stored in underground layers.
