aquifer what does it mean
When the aquifer gets compressed, it may cause land subsidence, a drop in the ground surface. The city of New Orleans, Louisiana is actually below sea level today, and its subsidence is partly caused by removal of groundwater from the various aquifer/aquitard systems beneath it. Artificial recharge (AR) and aquifer aquiferAn aquifer is a geological formation or group of formations or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water to a drinking water well or spring. storage and recovery (ASR) are processes that convey water underground. ASR projects are increasing in number nationwide, especially in areas with potential water shortages. 1  Several methods of introducing water into an aquifer exist. Conventional methods of AR and ASR include: 2  Surface spreading. 3  Infiltration pits and basins. 4  Injection wells. Water injected into AR and ASR wells includes: 1  Drinking water from a public water treatment system. 2  Untreated ground water and surface water. 3  Treated effluent. 4  Reclaimed or recycled water. This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 28 August 2017. Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock become completely saturated with water is called the water table. Groundwater is recharged from, and eventually flows to, the surface naturally; natural discharge often occurs at springs and seeps, and ca When groundwater is removed from aquifers by excessive pumping, pore pressures in the aquifer drop and compression of the aquifer may occur. This compression may be partially recoverable if pressures rebound, but much of it is not. AR and ASR wells are frequently found in areas of the United States that have: 1  High population density and proximity to intensive agriculture. 2  Dependence and increasing demand on ground water for drinking water and agriculture. 3  Limited ground or surface water availability. On this page: Artificial recharge (AR) and aquiferaquiferAn aquifer is a geological formation or group of formations or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water to a drinking water well or spring. storage and recovery (ASR) are processes that convey water underground. An aquiclude is a substrate with porosity that is so low it is virtually impermeable to groundwater. A confined aquifer is an aquifer that is overlain by a relatively impermeable layer of rock or substrate such as an aquiclude or aquitard. If a confined aquifer follows a downward grade from its recharge zone, groundwater can become pressurized as it flows. The volume of groundwater in an aquifer can be estimated by measuring water levels in local wells and by examining geologic records from well-drilling to determine the extent, depth and thickness of water-bearing sediments and rocks.
An aquifer is a geological formation or group of formations or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water to a drinking water well or spring.