How an aquifer works What can be done to ensure that the aquifer is protected and sustained?
First, a few basic facts. An aquifer is an underground water reservoir. It is a water-saturated geologic (earth, gravel or porous stone) formation zone under-ground that stores and transmits usable quantity of water. Underground water is one of our most valuable resources. Man extracts water from the aquifer by digging a well until the top layer of the aquifer is reached. Over-extraction or pumping too much water draws down the water table and eventually causes a well to generate less and less water. In aquifers, almost no bacteria can live. Many pollutants are filtered out as the water passes through the soil and rocks on the way to the aquifer. The water table is not flat as its name implies; it has crests and valleys that follow the outline of the land above it. It represents the upper surface of the groundwater. During dry spells, where a lot of water is pumped from an aquifer, the water table sinks lower. Lands covered with trees and swamps are the usual recharge areas that refill
