Aquifere

Aquifere, the French term for aquifer, refers to a layer of rock or sediment that can store and transmit groundwater. An aquifer acts as a natural underground reservoir that yields usable water to wells, springs, and seeps. Its ability to store water depends on porosity, the proportion of void space, and permeability, the ease with which fluids move through the material.

Aquifers occur in a variety of rock types, including unconsolidated sediments such as sand and gravel, as well as consolidated rocks like sandstone, limestone, or fractured crystalline rocks. They are typically bounded by less permeable layers called aquitards or aquicludes, which can slow or prevent vertical flow.

Classification commonly includes confined, unconfined, and perched aquifers. Confined aquifers are sandwiched between aquitards and are often under pressure, sometimes producing artesian wells. Unconfined aquifers have the water table at atmospheric pressure and are recharged directly by surface infiltration. Perched aquifers lie above the main water table, separated by a layer with lower permeability.

Recharge and discharge describe the water balance of an aquifer. Recharge occurs from precipitation, infiltration from surface water, and leakage from streams or reservoirs. Discharge takes place through springs, pumped withdrawals, or baseflow to rivers and lakes. Groundwater supports drinking water, agriculture, industry, and ecological systems, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.

Protection and management focus on sustainable pumping, safeguarding recharge areas, preventing contamination, and monitoring water levels and quality. Hydrogeological studies use pumping tests, tracers, and modeling to characterize aquifers and guide resource management.