Hello there,

Surface water is just same as its name i.e. it is the water found in a river, lake or other surface cavity. This water is usually not very high in mineral content, and is often called “soft water”. Surface water is exposed to many different contaminants, such as animal wastes, pesticides, insecticides, industrial wastes etc.

Groundwater is located underground in large aquifers and it is pumped out of the ground after drilling a deep well. Groundwater commonly contains less contamination than surface water because there are many rock layers present inside the ground and these act as a filter.

There are many factors due to which water is degrading. These include impacts due to agriculture, use of fertilizers, manures and pesticides, animal husbandry activities, inefficient irrigation practices, deforestation of woods, aquaculture, pollution due to industrial effluents and domestic sewage, mining, and recreational activities etc.

Hope this helps.