Ground / Surface Water
When rain falls on a natural landscape (such as in the meadow below), some water might run off into small streams or tributaries (on the right). These are referred to as surface waters.
The rate at which the water will run off the landscape depends on the permeability of the landscape.
In the example to the (below) left, the sandy topsoil will typically absorb a great deal of precipitation and is therefore considered a highly permeable or pervious landscape. Conversely, the landscaped walkway will only absorb water in the areas in between the inlaid stone (see red arrows), and thus generate a higher rate and volume of runoff. In a paved (impermeable, or impervious) land use, we can expect to see a yet higher degree of runoff from the landscape. (example lower right)
Water that filters into the ground, to the aquifer, is referred to as "ground water".
In a natural environment, a portion of the water that is not held in the top soil, or unsaturated zone, filters through the vegetation, down through the topsoil, subsoil, to the aquifers.
The etymology of this word is derived from the latin: aqua, (water) and ferre, (to carry). As you might have guessed, an aquifer carries water underground. An aquifer might be the interstitial water between grains of sand or small rocks which are breaking down from the "parent" material underneath.
While aquifer protection and management is not typically of concern in Vermont, other areas of the country have suffered extreme groundwater contamination and impact.*
Vermont is fortunate to have relatively low impact on aquifer resources in the state. Within the discussion of the RAN toolbox, we are principally concerned with surface water pollution, erosion, and flooding. However, as a note, some of the Best Management Practices ( or BMP's) we discuss later can offer potential for aquifer recharge.
Let's take a look at Butler Farms and Oak Creek Village in particular:
*Information on MTBE, the gasoline additive;
An example of depletion of aquifer resources: Hopi/Navaho aquifer crisis
Drawings reference: ("Groundwater", ISBN 0-607-90083-2 ND.)
"This publication is one of a series of general interest publications prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey to provide information about the earth sciences, natural resources, and the environment. : U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Box 25286–0046 Denver, CO 80225 Telephone: (303) 202–4700 or 1–800–HELP–MAP FAX: (303) 202–4693 Email: info services@usgs.gov ISBN 0–607–90082–2