The water table is the natural level of water in a soil or rock. Below the water table the soil or rock is saturated.

The water table lies below the surface except where the edges of rock bands occur in valley sides. Here springs occur.

When a water table rises to meet the surface of the land, water seeps out of the ground, often as a spring. Many rivers have their headwaters formed this way.

The height of a water table is very important for people relying on wells for their water. The water table rises and falls each year and so the depth of water down the well also rises and falls. If the well is not deep enough, the falling level in summer can leave the well dry. Some wells are over 100m deep to keep them from running dry in summer.