The alternative is surface water, which is stored on the earth's surface in oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers ditches, ice-caps and wetlands. Farming operations need a fresh, daily, dependable supply of drinking water for many purposes. As a water source, groundwater is preferred. It requires minimum treatment, the need for costly pipelines is eliminated, temperature and quality are usually uniform and, properly managed, the supply is dependable. This shows the percentage of water use from ground water sources in eastern North America .
Ground water is a renewable resource.
In Eastern North America, we have and abundant supply of good groundwater. Rainfall and melting snow replenish the water we draw from wells. The earth stores and protects an immense underground supply of groundwater.