Lecture 12- Groundwater Resources

Question 1

WHAT IS GROUNDWATER

Answer 1

Groundwater is water located in the saturated zone below the earth’s
surface.

Question 2

What is an aquifer

Answer 2

An aquifer is an underground geological formation which transmits and contains appreciable quantities of groundwater

Question 3

what are the two main times of aquifer

Answer 3

unconfined and confined.

Question 4

what are Unconfined aquifers

Answer 4

are characterised by the absence of a low permeability (confining) layer above them

Question 5

what are CONFINED AQUIFERS

Answer 5

are permeable rock units deep under the ground and overlain by less permeable layers.

Question 6

what is artesian flow

Answer 6

Pressure from the recharge zones creates high water pressure in the
aquifer beneath the confining layer. Sometimes the pressure is so
great that, where there is a break in the confining layer, water will
naturally rise and bubble to the surface without the need of a pump.

Question 7

what are recharge zones

Answer 7

replenishment occurs here and aquifer is unconfined and which may be a long distance from the confined portion of the aquifer.

Question 8

what are the Different types of aquifers

Answer 8

1. Unconsolidated aquifer (e.g. well sorted
   sand)
2. Fractured rock aquifer (e.g. fractures in
   granite)
3. Sedimentary rock aquifer (e.g. caverns in
   limestone

Question 9

what is Recharge

Answer 9

is the replenishment of water to a groundwater system from the ground surface. It can occur naturally or artificially