Spring (water)

A spring is a point where groundwater flows out of the ground, and is thus where the aquifer surface meets the ground surface. Depending on how constant the source of the water is – rainfall or snowmelt that infiltrates the Earth – springs can be either ephemeral (intermittent) or perennial (continuous). When they leave the ground they may forms pools or streams.

Minerals become dissolved in the water as it moves through the underground rocks. This gives the water flavour, and even carbon dioxide bubbles, depending on the nature of the geology. This is why spring water is often bottled and sold as mineral water, although the term is often the subject of deceptive advertising.

See Also

• Hot spring
• Well
• Water cycle

External Links

• "The Science of Springs" (via Wayback Machine)
• "What Is A Spring?"
• List of First-Magnitude springs in Florida