Which of the following is NOT considered a cause of flooding?

In the context of flood causes, low groundwater levels are not typically considered a direct cause of flooding. Flooding primarily occurs due to situations that lead to an overwhelming amount of water in a particular area, including overflowing inland waters from rivers or lakes, rapid surface water accumulation from heavy rainfall or runoff, and land collapse along shorelines.

Overflowing inland waters happens when rivers or lakes exceed their capacity, causing water to spill into surrounding areas. Similarly, rapid accumulation of surface water or runoff occurs when heavy rains saturate the ground quickly, leading to excess water that cannot be absorbed, contributing to flooding. The collapse of land along the margins of water bodies can further exacerbate the situation by allowing more water to encroach onto land areas.

In contrast, low groundwater levels indicate a scarcity of water beneath the surface and do not contribute to flooding events. Instead, they can often imply lower chances of flooding, as there is less water present underground to be pushed up during rain events. Thus, low groundwater levels stand out as the option that does not fit with the other causes of flooding.