Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of groundwater?

Groundwater has several unique characteristics that distinguish it from surface water. One of the key characteristics of groundwater is that it is typically more expensive to access than surface water. This is largely due to the infrastructure and resources required to drill wells and extract water from underground aquifers, which can involve significant initial investment and operational costs.

The absence of most bacteria in groundwater is often due to natural filtration that occurs as water percolates through soil and rock layers, which can provide a level of protection from surface contaminants. This characteristic makes groundwater a generally safer option for drinking water, though it is not always entirely free of pathogens.

In terms of evaporation, groundwater is protected from direct exposure to atmospheric conditions, which is why evaporation is virtually non-existent when compared to surface water bodies like lakes and rivers. Surface water is constantly exposed to the air, allowing for significant evaporation, while groundwater remains underground.

Given these considerations, it is clear that the ease of access and cost associated with groundwater make it more expensive to access than surface water, making that statement the accurate choice in identifying what is NOT a characteristic of groundwater.