Which term refers to underground layers that store groundwater?

• A. Groundwater Pollution
• B. Common Groundwater Pollutants
• C. Aquifers
• D. Algal Blooms

Answer: (C)

Underground layers that store groundwater are called aquifers. An aquifer is a permeable, saturated rock or sediment layer whose interconnected pores allow water to be stored and to flow slowly through the subsurface, making it possible to tap groundwater with wells. Aquifers can be unconfined, with a water table that rises and falls as recharge occurs, or confined, trapped between impermeable layers that pressure the stored water. Recharge happens when rainwater infiltrates the surface and percolates down to the aquifer. This storage and slow movement are central for understanding groundwater availability and sustainable pumping. The other terms refer to water quality or surface phenomena rather than underground storage: groundwater pollution describes contamination, common groundwater pollutants are contaminants themselves, and algal blooms occur in surface waters driven by nutrients.