How do water wells run dry?
Question My house is serviced by a deep water well dug in my front yard. I’m curious as to how a well runs dry and is the water table ever replenished. Or once an aquifer runs dry that’s it. Answer Deep water wells are drilled into aquifers, which are essentially underground rivers. Water seeps into the aquifer in recharge zones to replenish the water table. If more water is being pumped out than is seeping in, then the level of the water table can drop below the depth of the well. Droughts can have short-term effects on the level of water in an aquifer by reducing the amount of water seeping into it. Long-term changes to aquifers can occur when surface water is diverted away from the recharge zones. Over use of aquifers in coastal areas can lead to salt-water intrusion and permanent damage to the aquifer.
