Which statement correctly distinguishes groundwater from surface water?

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Groundwater is stored and moves underground in the saturated zones of soil and rock, while surface water sits on the land surface in rivers, lakes, and streams. Water from rainfall infiltrates downward until the pore spaces and fractures are filled with water, creating the saturated zone and the water table—the upper boundary of groundwater. Surface water, on the other hand, collects and flows above ground in channels like rivers and in bodies like lakes. This distinction captures why groundwater is typically found beneath the surface and tends to move more slowly through subsurface materials, whereas surface water is visible on the surface and can flow fairly quickly along channels. Groundwater isn’t inherently saline and surface water isn’t inherently freshwater, and the speed of flow isn’t fixed—it depends on the environment.