An aquifer is a water-saturated layer underground, while groundwater refers to water in the ground. Underground wells can extract water from aquifers, which need to be recharged by rain or rivers. The depth of the water table affects accessibility, and management is important to prevent problems such as depletion and contamination.
An aquifer is an underground layer that holds water within soil, porous rock, or similar material. Groundwater is the term used to refer to water that exists in the ground, as opposed to surface water, which is found in ponds, streams, and other bodies of water. Groundwater is found in nearly all areas of the earth’s surface, but the term aquifer usually refers to water-saturated layers; i.e. all available space, for example between soil particles or in rock pores, is filled with water.
An underground water well can be used to extract water from an aquifer and can form a very important part of a region’s water resources, particularly in arid or desert areas where surface water may be scarce. As a source of sustainable drinking water, an aquifer normally requires a means to recharge. Most of the aquifers are replenished by rivers or rain. This water can seep into the aquifer as groundwater flows through the soil. Sometimes an aquifer can fill up during a rainy season and then gradually dry up over the summer.
The depth at which an aquifer lies in a particular geographic region usually depends on the level of the water table in the area. The water table refers to the subsurface depth at which groundwater pressure equals atmospheric pressure, and is usually regarded as the highest level of accessible groundwater in a given area. It is important to realize that the depth of the water table changes with time and that there could be a significant difference in the depth of the water table from one season to the next. This can affect the depth at which local aquifers are accessible.
Given the important human dependence on groundwater in some areas, the management and maintenance of these water sources may be a key consideration. Some of the problems plaguing groundwater can include surface subsidence; water depletion, if water is constantly being removed from the aquifer too rapidly for it to replenish naturally; and groundwater contamination. Contamination can occur in freshwater aquifers, especially near the sea, if too much water is removed and salt water is drawn in. This problem is also sometimes called salt water intrusion.
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