Aquifer

An Aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing Permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which Groundwater can be usefully extracted using a Water well. The study of Water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called Hydrogeology. Related terms include aquitard, which is a bed of low permeability along an aquifer , and aquiclude , which is a solid, impermeable area underlying or overlying an Aquifer. If the impermeable area overlies the aquifer pressure could cause it to become a confined aquifer.

Aquifers can occur at various depths. Those closer to the surface are not only more likely to be used for Water supply and Irrigation, but are also more likely to be topped up by the local rainfall. Many desert areas have Limestone hills or mountains within them or close to them that can be exploited as groundwater resources. Parts of the Atlas Mountains in North Africa, the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges of Syria, Israel and Lebanon, the Jebel Akhdar in Oman, parts of the Sierra Nevada and neighbouring ranges in the United States' Southwest, have shallow aquifers that are exploited for their Water. Over-exploitation can lead to the exceeding of the practical sustained yield; i.e., more water is taken out than can be replenished. Along the coastlines of certain countries, such as Libya and Israel, population growth has led to over-population, which has caused the lowering of Water table and the subsequent contamination of the groundwater with saltwater from the Sea .

The Beach provides a model to help visualize an aquifer. If a hole is dug into the Sand, very wet or saturated Sand will be located at a shallow depth. This hole is a crude well, the wet sand represents an Aquifer, and the level to which the water rises in this hole represents the Water table.

1. Aquifers, from USGS Water Science for Schools - What is an aquifer? , from the USGS Water Science for Schools site.
2. The Edwards Aquifer Website - Information about one of the world most well-known aquifers. Features graphs and charts, images, essays, and photos that describe how the aquifer formed.
3. Aquifer - Encyclopedia of Earth - Introduction. An aquifer is a geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of
4. Aquifer CMS - Aquifer CMS is a powerful tool for managing web content and websites.

1. 2010-08-26T14:28:49Z : Aquifer Solutions Named to Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Firms for the Sec - Design-build environmental services provider Aquifer Solutions, Inc. www.aquifersolutions.com , announced it was named for the second time by Inc.com Inc. Magazine online to the list of fastest growing private ... (PR Inside)
2. 2010-08-30T11:46:36Z : Study Aquifer that provides drinking water in SE Ark., other states, u - LITTLE ROCK, Ark. AP The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality says the aquifer that provides drinking water in southeastern Arkansas and other states has not been negatively affected by industry in the ... (WREG)
3. 2010-09-02T13:30:25Z : Gas industry risks draining aquifer - Skynews.com - A new study has found Queensland largest freshwater aquifer is at risk of being drained as a result of coal seam gas development. The Condamine Alluvium, which extends 3,600 square kilometres from Ellangowan to ... (Skynews.com)
4. 2010-09-07T19:22:24Z : AP Water could be issue with Sunflower coal plant - Garden City Telegr - Department of Health and Environment. But eventually, the project will need a water-use permit from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. And, Sierra Club spokeswoman Stephanie Cole the Ogallala Aquifer and ... (Garden City Telegram)

1. 2010-09-08T17:21:11Z : MM, livingnearshamu - Edwards aquifer jumps over 2 ft all the way to 675.5, thanks to yesterday's 3.69" of rain. Here's hoping it reaches 680 tomorrow :-) @MySAWS
2. 2010-09-08T17:14:00Z : Albert Texas, Altexas - San Antonio had more rain yesterday than in 30 years. Also it rained all night. The aquifer should be in good shape for a long time to come.