What does surface water refer to?

Surface water specifically refers to water that is found on the Earth's surface, such as in lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs. This definition encompasses any body of water that does not exist underground. Surface water is crucial for various ecosystems and human activities, providing a habitat for numerous species, serving as a source for drinking water, and being essential for agriculture and industry.

While underground water is categorized as groundwater and refers to water stored in aquifers, lakes and rivers make up the surface water category where water is readily accessible for both ecological and human needs. Other choices represented water sources or methods of obtaining water that do not fall under the surface water classification.