Some Water Facts

Where does water come from?

Water spends time in the ocean, in the air, on the Earth's surface, and under it as groundwater. This water circulates endlessly in a kind of global plumbing system called the hydrologic cycle or water cycle.

Global plumbing!

The water cycle is controlled by the sun, which produces the heat energy that determines the way the earth uses and recycles its water. This heat energy evaporates water in the oceans, lakes and even backyard pools. When water evaporates, it rises into the cooler air, collects, and forms clouds. Eventually, the water droplets that form the clouds fall from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. When water falls to the ground, it doesn't stop moving. Some flows across the earth's surface into bodies of water like rivers and lakes. Other water seeps into the soil where it makes its way to becoming groundwater, and then may slowly flow into rivers and lakes, or back into the sea. Then the cycle starts all over again!

Where on Earth can we find water?

More than 97% of all water is in the oceans. This means that less than 3% of water is found on land. Most of this is locked up in glaciers and icecaps, while some is found in saline inland seas.

Freshwater is more than rivers and lakes

When it comes to the world's freshwater, most people think of rivers and lakes. Yet this accounts for a minuscule 0.26% of the Earth's total freshwater, and there is there is much more water in the ground than there is stored on the surface. Most of the water we see flowing in rivers comes from the seepage of groundwater into riverbeds.

What is Groundwater?

Back to Groundwater Information Page