What is an Aquifer?
An aquifer is a saturated underground rock layer with enough available water that can be pumped out or flow from the ground as a spring.
Certain areas of the U.S. have aquifers that are constantly replenished by way of the hydrologic cycle (see above).
Some aquifers span several hundred square miles, yet each requires several key elements if it is to be useable by humans.
- An underground rock layer that can hold water
- A zone of saturation where groundwater accumulates
- Water can be pumped from the aquifer to the surface for use