Editing Water table (section)

=== Surface topography ===
Within an aquifer, the water table is rarely horizontal, but reflects the surface relief due to the capillary effect ([[capillary fringe]]) in [[soil]]s, [[sediment]]s and other [[porous media]]. In the aquifer, groundwater flows from points of higher pressure to points of lower pressure, and the direction of groundwater flow typically has both a horizontal and a vertical component. The slope of the water table is known as the “hydraulic gradient”, which depends on the rate at which water is added to and removed from the aquifer and the permeability of the material. The water table does not always mimic the topography due to variations in the underlying geological structure (e.g.,&nbsp;folded, faulted, fractured bedrock).