bottenvattnet

Bottenvattnet is a Swedish term commonly used for groundwater—the water stored beneath the earth’s surface in soil pores and rock fractures. It forms a vital part of the hydrological cycle and occurs in aquifers, which can be unconfined (with the water table as the upper surface) or confined (overlain by layers that influence pressure).

Recharge occurs when precipitation infiltrates the soil, while discharge takes place at springs, rivers, lakes, or through withdrawals by wells. Groundwater generally moves slowly compared with surface water, and its age can range from years to millennia depending on depth and geology. The interaction between groundwater and surface water means that ecosystems such as wetlands and stream baseflows rely on a steady groundwater supply.

Groundwater is a major source of freshwater for drinking water, agriculture, and industry in many regions, and it supports natural habitats and ecological resilience. Its quality is influenced by land use and human activity; common concerns include nitrate from fertilizers, organic and inorganic pollutants, leaking storage of fuels and chemicals, and long-term contamination risks. In coastal areas, saltwater intrusion can threaten freshwater lenses when pumping exceeds recharge.

Protection and management involve monitoring, sustainable extraction, and land-use planning. In Sweden, groundwater resources are overseen by national agencies including the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) and environmental authorities, with frameworks aligned to broader directives such as the European Union Water Framework Directive. Effective management emphasizes mapping aquifers, regulating withdrawals, protecting recharge areas, and mitigating pollution to safeguard this essential resource for current and future use.