Groundwater is water found in cracks and pores in sand, gravel and rocks below the surface of the earth. Does your drinking water come from a well? That's groundwater. More than 50 % of North Carolina's populations gets their drinking water from groundwater, including both private and municipal wells.
When it rains, some of the water soaks into the ground, rather than flowing into water courses. The water that is that is not taken up by plant roots moves deeper into the earth becoming groundwater, which in turn feeds lakes and streams through springs. Groundwater is stored in aquifers, or layers of porous materials like sand.

Both the quantity and quality of groundwater are human concerns. Water that flows through contaminated soils can become contaminated. What we dump on the ground can eventually end up in our drinking glasses. Photo © 2006 Shawn Soni, S.Lauro Photography

In the coastal plain region, groundwater often comes from aquifers that are closed off by layers of clay that won't allow water through. Increased use of groundwater raises concerns that we may be depleting water sources much faster than they can replenish themselves. Excess pumping in the proximity of salt water also raises the risk of bringing salt water into an aquifer, making it unfit for human consumption. Where does your drinking water come from? Find out about groundwater conditions in your part of the state.

Check This Out!

Division of Environmental Health - Public Water Supply Section - SWAP
http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/pws/index.htm
Click on the blue "Source Water Assesment and Protection" box at the top of the page. Then click the "NC SWAP Info" square at the bottom of the next page. Here you can look at surface water, groundwater and even pollution incidents in your area!

NC OneMap
http://www.nconemap.com/
Just click on the NC OneMap logo to launch the program. Once launched, on the left side under the "Query" subheading, click on the mailbox icon. This allows you to type in your address. Enter your address and click the "Find Address" button. A box will come up with X and Y coordinates. Click where it says "GoTo" to zoom in to your address on the map. On the right side of the page are all of the layers you can turn on and off. NC OneMap can show you everything from river basins to elevation, landcover to weather. It's a FANTASTIC resource, and a great place to start learning about your ecological address!


For More Resources

North Carolina Groundwater Association
http://www.ncgwa.org
The North Carolina Ground Water Association was established in 1946. It is the only organization that specifically represents the professional and business interests of the North Carolina water well contractor and pump installer while, at the same time, supporting scientific and educational measures designed to preserve the natural resources upon which the industry is based. Therefore, the purposes of the Association are:

• To assist, promote, encourage, and support the interests and welfare of the ground water industry in all of its phases within the State of North Carolina.
• To foster, aid, and promote scientific education, standardization, research, and development in order to improve methods of well construction, and to advance the science of ground water hydrology.
• To promote harmony and cooperation between the ground water industry and governmental and scientific agencies relative to the proper development, utilization, and protection of underground water supplies.
• To encourage cooperation of all interested groups relative to the improvement of drilling and pumping equipment.
• To collect, analyze, and disseminate to the public, facts about the utilization and protection of ground water, and about the role of the ground water industry in the economy of the State of North Carolina and the Nation.
• To advance generally the mutual interest of all those engaged in the ground water industry.

DENR Division of Water Resources Groundwater Branch
http://www.ncwater.org/index.php?toggle=gw
The Division administers programs for river basin management, water supply assistance, water conservation, and water resources development. The Division conducts special studies on instream flow needs and serves as the State liaison with federal agencies on major water resources related projects. The Division also administers two environmental education outreach programs, Stream Watch and Project WET.  DWR has recently restructured its organization, elevating the Ground Water Branch to the Ground Water Management Section.   The Water Allocation Section has been renamed the River Basin Management Section, to reflect the focus of this workgroup.

Cooperative Extension Service
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=home
North Carolina Cooperative Extension gives our state's residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension agents deliver unbiased, research-based information to North Carolina citizens. They can answer your questions on a wide array of topics.