For water masses on the surface of the world ocean, see Surface water (ocean).

For water masses on the surface of land-masses, see Surface water (land).

Water collecting on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean is called surface water, as opposed to groundwater or atmospheric water.

Surface water is naturally replenished by precipitation and naturally lost through discharge to evaporation, and sub-surface seepage into the groundwater. Although there are other sources of groundwater, such as connate water and magmatic water, precipitation is the major one and groundwater originated in this way is called meteoric water.

Land surface water is the largest source of fresh water.

Classification of surface water quality

The field of hydrometry is used to characterize surface water quality.

• Class 1 is extra clean fresh surface water resource used for conservation not necessary pass through water treatment process required only ordinary process for pathogenic destruction and econsystem conservation where basic organisms can bread naturally.
• Class 2 is very clean fresh surface water resource used for consumption which required ordinary water treatment process before use, aquatic organism of conservation, fisheries, and recreation.
• Class 3 is medium clean fresh surface water resource used for consumption but passing through an ordinary treatment process before using and agriculture.
• Class 4 is fairly clean fresh surface water resource used for consumption but requires special water treatment process before using and in industry
• Class 5 is the source which are not classification in class 1-4 and used for navigation.

definition: surface water is taken from the lakes,rivers,waterfalls and sea.

See also

• Meltwater
• Rainwater

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