aquifer

[ak-wuh-fer]

noun

1. any geological formation containing or conducting groundwater, especially one that supplies the water for wells, springs, etc.

aquifer

/ ˈækwɪfə /

noun

1. a porous deposit of rock, such as a sandstone, containing water that can be used to supply wells

aquifer

1. An underground layer of permeable rock, sediment (usually sand or gravel), or soil that yields water. The pore spaces in aquifers are filled with water and are interconnected, so that water flows through them. Sandstones, unconsolidated gravels, and porous limestones make the best aquifers. They can range from a few square kilometers to thousands of square kilometers in size.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aquifer¹

First recorded in 1900–05; probably from French aquifère (adjective); aqui-, -fer

Example Sentences

The company has promised to construct a giant wastewater recycling facility, to be used in its cooling system, that would help reduce demand on the Memphis aquifer.

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Although this week's rainfall is welcome and will go some way to help river levels and soil moisture content, it will take some time for catchments to recover and for reservoirs and aquifers to respond.

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Where aquifer levels decline, wells and faucets increasingly sputter and run dry, people drill deeper and the land can sink as underground spaces collapse.

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Protecting the aquifers that sustain these springs is essential, not only for iconic wildlife like manatees, but also for supplying drinking water to nearly half of Florida's population.

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Homes in large portions of California’s Central Valley have been sinking, as have roads, bridges, canals and levees, as too much water is drawn out of underground aquifers.

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Related Words

• water level