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9.2 NOTES What is groundwater? Objective: Explain how groundwater collects in soil Some of the rain or snow that falls to Earth soaks into the soil. Spaces or holes in the soil are called pores. Water that collects between the bits of rock and soil and sinks into the ground is called groundwater. About 22% of Earth’s freshwater is stored as groundwater. Different kinds of rock and soil can hold different amounts of groundwater. Loosely packed rock or soil has many pores, and can hold a lot of groundwater. Tightly packed rock or soil does not have many pores, and can only hold a small amount of groundwater. Connected pores make it easier for water to move through. If pores are NOT connected, the water cannot sink deeper into the ground. Groundwater sinks down into the soil until it eventually reaches bedrock. When the pores cannot hold any more water, they become saturated. The upper layer of saturated soil and rock is called the water table.