Groundwater is astore of waterbelow the soil, filling the space between soil, sand and rocks. It is also known as the saturated zone as it is the area which is saturated with water. Groundwater flow depends on elevation and pressure, either going from areas of high to low elevation, or areas of high to low pressure. It is an integral part ofthe water cycle

The Water Table
Unsaturated zones are areas where oxygen and water fill the space between sediments and is found above the saturated zone. The boundary between saturated and unsaturated zones is known as the water table. The height of the water table is determined by land elevation and amount of groundwater. It naturally fluctuates, usually falling in summer and increasing in winter. When groundwater stores are depleted, through natural or human influences, this lowers the water table and can cause rivers to dry up.