When water leaches from the surface to groundwater aquifers, it absorbs important minerals from the soil and rocks. This is the essential difference between mineral water and surface water. The EU has introduced requirements that ordinary Norwegian surface water does not satisfy. The advantages of groundwater are not simply higher quality but also that it requires lower investment and operating costs, is well protected against contamination and entails relatively simple technical installations. Among NGU s current priorities is greater utilization of groundwater, as part of a major programme launched by the Government in order to improve water quality.
Water is found everywhere below the surface, in cracks in rocks and between soil particles.
Below a certain level, the groundwater level, all crevices in rock or soil are full of water.