Aquifer- storage of groundwater

Where does groundwater come from? Rain!!!! Water seeps (infiltrates) into the soil Rain!!!! Water seeps (infiltrates) into the soil

3 major parts of an aquifer: 1. zone of saturation- pore spaces of soil are filled with water 2. zone of aeration-pore spaces of soil are filled with air 3. water table- boundary between the zone of saturation and zone of aeration

Why does the height of the water table change during the year? Snow melt and rain cause the water table to get higher, closer to the surface Snow melt and rain cause the water table to get higher, closer to the surface A drought and pumping too much ground water out of the ground causes the water table to move farther beneath the surface A drought and pumping too much ground water out of the ground causes the water table to move farther beneath the surface

How do we get ground water? A well is dug into the zone of saturation. A well is dug into the zone of saturation. Irrigation is the single greatest use of well water. Irrigation is the single greatest use of well water. If too much water is pumped out before the supply is replenished, a cone of depression forms. It is a V-shape in the water table that forms when too much water is pumped out If too much water is pumped out before the supply is replenished, a cone of depression forms. It is a V-shape in the water table that forms when too much water is pumped out

Cone of depression

Why is groundwater sometimes considered nonrenewable? In arid, dry regions it took hundreds of thousands of years to accumulate groundwater. As population increases, more gorundwater is being pumped out than is being replenished. In arid, dry regions it took hundreds of thousands of years to accumulate groundwater. As population increases, more gorundwater is being pumped out than is being replenished.

Causes of groundwater contamination Sewage from septic tanks Sewage from septic tanks Farm waste Farm waste Broken sewers Broken sewers Leaking landfills Leaking landfills

Health effects of drinking contaminated water People get sick with sore throat, fever and disease People get sick with sore throat, fever and disease Radioactive substances can cause birth defects and cancers Radioactive substances can cause birth defects and cancers Organic chemicals like gasoline, plastic, and detergents can cause cancers and disorders of the nervous and reproductive systems Organic chemicals like gasoline, plastic, and detergents can cause cancers and disorders of the nervous and reproductive systems

What can you do to protect groundwater? Dispose of hazardous waste products correctly Dispose of hazardous waste products correctly clean up after your pet clean up after your pet Do not wash your car Do not wash your car Fix leaking pipes Fix leaking pipes

How does ground water move? Permeable layers- water flows through very easily; soil has large pore spaces; ex: gravels Permeable layers- water flows through very easily; soil has large pore spaces; ex: gravels

Impermeable layers Water can not flow through very easily; soil has very small pore spaces; ex: clay Water can not flow through very easily; soil has very small pore spaces; ex: clay

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