Groundwater refers to the water that is found under the soil; it is one of the most important sources of drinking water as well as irrigation of soil. It is found within the spaces and cracks in the sand, soil, and rock and it moves through the geological formation of sand, rocks and soil called aquifers.  Water can move through aquifers because it is permeable due to the large connected spaces within them. Groundwater will move at different speeds, all depending on how wide the space that exists within the aquifers is.

Groundwater is almost everywhere, but the depth of the table differs. While the water table is shallow in some areas, it is deep in others. It could also alternate from deep to shallow due to various factors. For instance, rainfall and snow could cause the water table to rise while heavy pumping of the water may cause it to fall. It is the rain and melting snow that usually replenishes groundwater supplies as they seep into the crevices and cracks beneath the surface. Where the groundwater supply is used at a faster rate than it is replenished, the result would be water shortages, and this is a common phenomenon in some parts of the world.  Without pumping the water, groundwater can come to the surface naturally through springs and can be discharged into streams and lakes. Extraction of this water can be done through a well, and this is where we get to see the depth of the water table. It should be noted that groundwater is not always clean and drinkable, and this happens as a result of the aquifers being permeable and therefore allowing pollutants to get into the water supply.

This provides all the information and advice needed by the Federal, States, and Territory Governments in Australia as well as the community, natural resources authorities, and all other relevant bodies on several issues bordering on groundwater resources.