hot spring
Nonflowing
artesian well
R e c h a r g e a r e a
R e c h a r g e a r e a
#1 #1
#2 #2
R e c h a r g e a r e a
#1
Pres sure surf ace
Aquitard
Confined aquifer
Aquitard
#2
Nonflowing artesian
well (water must be
pumped from pressure
surface to surface)
Flowing
artesian well
Pressure
surface
Recharge area
Pressure
surface
Flowing
artesian well
249
Artesian Wells
Water is
pumped into
tank
Pressure surface
(level to which water
will rise)
Pressure moves
water through pipe
Water tank
Well
FIGURE 10.13 City water systems can be considered to be artificial
artesian systems.
On a different scale, city water
systems can be considered to be
examples of artificial artesian systems
(FIGURE 10.13). The water tower, into
which water is pumped, can be considered the area of recharge; the pipes
the confined aquifer; and the faucets
in homes the flowing artesian wells.
C O N C E P T C H E C K 1 0 . 8
Sketch a simple cross section of an
artesian system with a flowing well.
Label the aquitards, aquifer, and
pressure surface.
1
FIGURE 10.12 Artesian systems occur when an inclined
aquifer is surrounded by impermeable beds (aquitards).
Such aquifers are called a confined aquifers. The photo
shows a flowing artesian well. (Photo by James E. Patterson)
This hot spring in
Iceland is surrounded
by a lava field. (Photo
by Markus Diouhy/Das
Fotoarchiv/Photolibrary)
Artesian springs also exist. Here groundwater may reach the surface by rising along
a natural fracture such as a fault rather than
through an artificially produced hole. In
deserts, artesian springs are sometimes
responsible for creating an oasis.
Artesian systems act as conduits, transmitting water from remote areas of recharge
great distances to the points of discharge.
In this manner, water that fell in central
Wisconsin years ago is now taken from the
ground and used by communities many
kilometers away in Illinois. In South
Dakota, such a system brings water from
the Black Hills in the west eastward across
the state.
Nonflowing
artesian well
R e c h a r g e a r e a
R e c h a r g e a r e a
#1 #1
#2 #2
R e c h a r g e a r e a
#1
Pres sure surf ace
Aquitard
Confined aquifer
Aquitard
#2
Nonflowing artesian
well (water must be
pumped from pressure
surface to surface)
Flowing
artesian well
Pressure
surface
Recharge area
Pressure
surface
Flowing
artesian well
249
Artesian Wells
Water is
pumped into
tank
Pressure surface
(level to which water
will rise)
Pressure moves
water through pipe
Water tank
Well
FIGURE 10.13 City water systems can be considered to be artificial
artesian systems.
On a different scale, city water
systems can be considered to be
examples of artificial artesian systems
(FIGURE 10.13). The water tower, into
which water is pumped, can be considered the area of recharge; the pipes
the confined aquifer; and the faucets
in homes the flowing artesian wells.
C O N C E P T C H E C K 1 0 . 8
Sketch a simple cross section of an
artesian system with a flowing well.
Label the aquitards, aquifer, and
pressure surface.
1
FIGURE 10.12 Artesian systems occur when an inclined
aquifer is surrounded by impermeable beds (aquitards).
Such aquifers are called a confined aquifers. The photo
shows a flowing artesian well. (Photo by James E. Patterson)
This hot spring in
Iceland is surrounded
by a lava field. (Photo
by Markus Diouhy/Das
Fotoarchiv/Photolibrary)
Artesian springs also exist. Here groundwater may reach the surface by rising along
a natural fracture such as a fault rather than
through an artificially produced hole. In
deserts, artesian springs are sometimes
responsible for creating an oasis.
Artesian systems act as conduits, transmitting water from remote areas of recharge
great distances to the points of discharge.
In this manner, water that fell in central
Wisconsin years ago is now taken from the
ground and used by communities many
kilometers away in Illinois. In South
Dakota, such a system brings water from
the Black Hills in the west eastward across
the state.