We learned that the Upper Glacial aquifer is quite polluted and that we get most of our water from the Magothy aquifer. Below the Magothy aquifer lies the Raritan Clay layer. This layer is largly impermeable and little water gets into the Lloyd Sand layer below. The water table is the area in which all the spaces in between sediment is filled with water instead of air. If you dig into this area you will find that the soil will be saturated and water will enter the newly emptied space.
Bogs are areas where the water table is even with the ground.
Streams can be areas where the ground dips below the water table in a sloping area or they can be water running over an impermeant surface. Likewise many of the ponds on Long Island are kettle ponds which are areas dug out by glaciers that dip below the water table. There are also perched ponds, which are areas where water collects in a depression above an impermeable barrier, ie. clay. From that point, we tested each water sample for chemical analysis using the pH paper, DO kit and TDS meter. We measured the temperature of the water and air on site.