If the surface contours of a property vary from high to low, how is groundwater table depth expected to behave?

If the surface contours of a property vary from high to low, how is groundwater table depth expected to behave?

• A. Remain constant
• B. Vary with ground elevations
• C. Be deepest upgradient
• D. Be shallowest on high ground

Answer: (B)

Groundwater depth follows the shape of the land. The groundwater table tends to form a surface that roughly mirrors surface topography, sloping as the ground does. As you move from higher ground to lower ground, the water table elevation changes accordingly, so the depth to it is not the same everywhere. In general, it becomes deeper beneath higher elevations and shallower beneath lower ones. That’s why the depth varies with ground elevations rather than remaining constant or following an upslope-only pattern.

Groundwater depth follows the shape of the land. The groundwater table tends to form a surface that roughly mirrors surface topography, sloping as the ground does. As you move from higher ground to lower ground, the water table elevation changes accordingly, so the depth to it is not the same everywhere. In general, it becomes deeper beneath higher elevations and shallower beneath lower ones. That’s why the depth varies with ground elevations rather than remaining constant or following an upslope-only pattern.