surface water
Lakes, rivers, streams
Surface water is water found on the Earth's surface—rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands.
The term distinguishes water that collects above ground from groundwater, which lies beneath the surface in aquifers.
Surface water is the primary source for irrigation, drinking water systems, and industrial use: The drought depleted surface water supplies across the region.
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- runoffExcess water drainage
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- reservoirsBodies storing water supply
rivers · catchment areas · evaporation · wetlands · floodplain · flood stage · aquifers · storm drain · aquatic ecosystems · rainfall · rain barrel · pond · irrigation · creek · sediment · marsh · current · algae
- water managementdam, irrigation, cistern, drainage, sluice gate
- hydrology mappingflood zones, hydrography, lake levels
- Upwellingthermocline, nutrients, phytoplankton, Humboldt Current, Benguela Current
- Watershed Managementcatchment, catchment area, catchment areas, drainage basin, drainage basins
- resourcesresources, money, natural resources, human resources, financial resources
- waterocean, river, sea, lake, wave
surface watergroundwater
Water in underground rock
deep water · well water · artesian water · water table · confined aquifer
surface waterwater vapor
H₂O in gaseous state
ice · glacial ice · permafrost · snow · clouds
water, surface, underwater, waterway, waterproof, watershed, surfaces, watertight, resurface