Water Table: Meaning, Shape, Height, Uses and Depletion

Water Table is defined as an underground boundary present in between the soil surface and the spaces where groundwater saturates. About 71% of the earth's surface is covered with water in the form of oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, etc. Most of the water present is not fit for human consumption directly, therefore humans depend on freshwater. Freshwater is available through rivers, streams, etc, but humans depend on the water table for freshwater. This water is usually known as groundwater. The rainwater and water from other sources, seep through the surface soil and fill up the gaps, spaces, and cracks between the soil and rocks, thus forming the water table or groundwater. The continuous use of water in an unorganized way is causing the depletion of the water table.

Key Takeaways: Water Table, Underground Water, Aquifer, Water, Freshwater, Rainwater Harvesting, Drip Irrigation, Unsaturated Zone, Saturated Zone, Soil

What is Water Table? 

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Water Table is an underground boundary between the soil surface and the spaces where groundwater saturates. The rainwater and water from other sources, seep through the surface soil and fill up the gaps, spaces, and cracks between the soil and rocks, thus forming the water table or groundwater. Infiltration can be defined as the process of seeping water into the ground, and it recharges the groundwater. The water table separates the two surfaces: the unsaturated zone, and the saturated zone.

• The unsaturated zone is the soil surface above the water table, where both oxygen and water fill-up the spaces between the sediments. Due to the presence of oxygen in the soil, this area is also called a Zone of Aeration.
• The saturated zone is the area below the water table, where water fills all spaces between sediments. It is bounded at the bottom by impenetrable rocks.

Read More: Importance of Water

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Shape and Height of the Water Table 

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The land surface that lies above the water table influence the shape and height of the water table. It will curve up below the hill and will drop under a valley. When the water table curves under the hills, then it is called a tall water table, and when it drops under a valley, then it is called a small water table. When the water table naturally meets the land surface, then it allows groundwater to flow on the surface in the form of a river or stream. These are called springs.

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Variations in the Water Table

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The level of the water table varies in different areas and is usually caused by changes in precipitation between the seasons. Like in winter, the weather is cold outside, so the level of the water table is usually high. Also, practices like irrigation also help in raising the water table as excess water reaches the ground.

During the summer season, the temperature is hot and humid outside, and the levels of the water table deplete, as most of the surface water evaporates in spite of tickling down. Also during summers, the plants too absorb more water through the process of transpiration. Humans are also responsible for lowering the water table by the practice of extracting the groundwater and not using it efficiently.

Read More: Forms of Water

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Uses of Water Table

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Water is essential for the survival of humans, and therefore for various purposes, humans prefer groundwater. Some of the uses of water tables include:

• The underground water is extracted through borewells or handpumps and for that the water tables are measured to find aquifers. 
• Water is used for various human purposes like drinking, bathing, cleaning, watering plant, etc.
• The water from the water table is also used for purposes like irrigation, industrial purposes, and for maintaining hygiene.
• The areas where there is a good amount of water in the water table are ofter put on sale, which is known as water table sale.

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Depletion of Water Table 

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The underground water is restored through the seepage of surface water. Till now the underground water has been maintained through these natural processes, but now the water table is depleting due to the following reasons:

Climate Change

• Rainwater is the main source of recharging the water table.
• Due to climate changes and increases in global warming, the rainfall is being affected and is not occurring regularly.
• Low rainfall will lead to a decrease in the amount of water seeping below and thus will lead to depletion of the water table.

Increasing Population

• Due to the increase in population, there is a need for more houses, offices, shops, parks, roads, etc.
• The construction of these areas will decrease the open areas like fields, parks, forests, etc, and thus will also decrease the seepage of rainwater into the ground.
• Also, for the construction process, a huge amount of groundwater will be used.
• Thus the increase in population leads to more usage of underground water but less water is getting seeped through the ground, thus depletion of the water table.

Increasing Industries 

• The industries are increasing day by day to fulfil the demand of the huge population.
• Whether the industry is for producing, food, cloth, or other essentials, they all require water for their production, cleaning, etc.
• The industries also used groundwater for production and they use lots of water and thus it is one of the reasons for the depletion of the water table.

Agriculture Activities 

• Farmers majorly depend on rain for irrigating their crops. 
• Irrigation systems like canals have been maintained in a few places, but they all suffer due to lack of rainfall.
• Therefore farmers have to use groundwater for irrigation to fulfil the demands of the population pressure.
• Thus a huge amount of groundwater is used in the agriculture process, which is also one of the reasons for the depletion of the water table.

Read More: Causes of Water Scarcity

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Water Table Management 

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The groundwater is used by all of us and we know it is very precious, so we should manage it properly.

Managing at Personal Level 

• We use water for our everyday purposes and we so somehow water unknowingly.
• We waste water while brushing teeth, bathing, shaving, washing, and many other activities. 
• Like we can use buckets in spite of using showers to take baths. This will save a lot of water from being water.
• We can use a mug of water to brush our teeth in spite of just letting the water flow through our taps.
• If there is water leakage in the pipe or tap, then it should be mended as soon as possible.

Rainwater Harvesting

• The rainwater can be used to recharge the groundwater through rainwater harvesting.
• Bawri was the traditional way of collecting rainwater and water recharging.
• Today the methods of rainwater harvesting are able to help manage water needs even in places with scanty rains.

Drip Irrigation

• Farmers can also use water economically, through drip irrigation.
• Drip irrigation refers to the technique of watering plants by the use of narrow tubings, which deliver water directly at the base of the plant. 

Read More: Causes & Effects of Water Pollution

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Things to Remember 

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• Water Table is an underground boundary between the soil surface and the spaces where groundwater saturates.
• The water table is a boundary that separates the unsaturated zone and the saturated zone.
• Unsaturated zone is that soil above the water table, which includes both air and water in the space or gaps between the soil.
• The saturated zone is the soil below the water table that has only water-filled in the gaps between the soil.
• The water table is recharged when the surface water seeps through the soil.
• The water table is depleting due to reasons like increasing population, increasing industries, agricultural activities, climate changes, deforestation, etc.
• The water can be conserved through various processes like rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, management at the personal level, etc.

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