Aquifers are underground layers of permeable rock or sediment that hold and transmit water. They act as natural storage tanks, providing a source of freshwater for wells and springs.
Imagine aquifers as giant sponges buried beneath the ground. When it rains, the sponge soaks up water and holds it within its tiny pores. This stored water can then be accessed through wells like squeezing out water from a sponge.
Groundwater: Water that is stored in and moves through aquifers underground.
Recharge: The process by which water replenishes an aquifer, usually through precipitation seeping into the ground.
Overpumping: Extracting more water from an aquifer than can be naturally replenished, leading to depletion and potential long-term damage.
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