Aquifers are layers of water that are found within underground permeable rock, sediment, or soil. Wells are commonly dug into aquifers to extract the water that they contain.
Hydrogeology involves studying the water flow within aquifers as well as the different types of aquifers. Hydrogeology has revealed several concerns that are associated with the overexploitation of aquifers, highlighting the range and extent of the impact that aquifers have on the environment.
The overexploitation of aquifers occurs when the rate of aquifer abstraction is greater than, or close to, the rate of the average recharge of the aquifer. According to Esteller & Diaz-Delgado, the overexploitation of aquifers can affect the environment in the following ways.
- a decline in the Groundwater Table
- the drying out of natural springs
- a decrease in the flow of rivers
- a higher susceptibility to pollution in the affected area
So, aquifers affect many facets of the environment, including the Groundwater Table, natural springs, the flow of rivers, and the susceptibility of an area to pollution.
No comments:
Post a Comment