There are three primary ways that we as humans get water. The first and most obvious way is from precipitation, which includes rain, sleet, snow, and hail. This is the water that fills our rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The second way we get water is through groundwater, which is the water that seeps into the ground and becomes trapped in the soil and rocks. The third way we get water is through surface water, which is the water that flows on the surface of the earth (rivers, streams, etc.).