Definition: Fresh ground water

Category: Environment

Fresh water which is being held in, and can usually be recovered from, or via, an underground formation. All permanent and temporary deposits of water, both artificially charged and naturally, in the subsoil, of sufficient quality for at least seasonal use. This category includes phreatic water-bearing strata, as well as deep strata under pressure or not, contained in porous or fracture soils. For purposes of the Joint Questionnaire, ground water includes springs, both concentrated and diffused, which may be subaqueous.