Definition

Surface water is water that has accumulated on the surface of the ground.

In many parts of Canada, surface water starts as snow or rainfall in the mountains. The rain or snowmelt runs down into creeks and streams. These in turn drain into rivers, lakes, and sometimes into man-made reservoirs on the ground’s surface. Surface water.

In some areas, surface water moves down into the ground, and then it is called, logically enough, ground water. You can find out more about that under the ground water topic.

The Surface Water Dilemma

If you live in an area with lots of mountains and bedrock, you probably get your water from a surface source. This has been the traditional source of water in Canada since humans first arrived.

Surface water has two main advantages:

• It’s easy to access (all you need is a bucket).
• It’s cheap to develop.

However, these advantages lead to pressure on the water supply. When land is developed, runoff is affected. There is competition about who receives the water and confusion about who is responsible for keeping it clean.

In some areas, governments require water licences or permits, which are meant to ensure that no one takes more than their share of water and that they return the water without major pollutants. Those around you must respect your right to clean water; developers must restrict or monitor their activities to ensure they do not affect it.

In short, surface water can be safe and reliable, but it is also susceptible to natural and human impact, since it is exposed and often unprotected.