groundwater
n. uncountable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡɹaʊndˌwɑtɝ// UK //ɡɹˈaʊndwɔːtɐ// ground·wa·ter
n. water that is found deep under the earth's surface in the soil or between rocks. It is a major source of fresh water for wells and springs.
n. water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock. It serves as a critical reservoir for the hydrological cycle and human consumption.
Many farmers rely on groundwater to water their crops.
The local government is monitoring the groundwater levels to ensure the town's wells do not run dry during the summer.
Industrial runoff can seep through the topsoil and contaminate the groundwater, leading to long-term environmental damage that is both difficult and expensive to remediate.
From ground + water.