Daquifères

Daquifères is a term found in some contexts to refer to aquifers, underground formations that store, transmit, and yield groundwater. The standard term in hydrogeology is aquifer, with the plural aquifères in French. In this sense, daquifères describe subsurface layers of rock or sediment that hold usable quantities of water and allow it to move under pressure.

Aquifers form where porous or fractured materials such as sandstones, limestones, gravels, or fractured rocks contain interconnected pore spaces. Their ability to store and transmit water depends on porosity, permeability, and the geometry of the underground reservoir. They can be classified as unconfined, where the water table is near the surface and recharge occurs directly from precipitation, or confined, which are sandwiched between less permeable layers and subjected to pressure. Perched aquifers lie above lower aquifers, separated by an impermeable layer.

Recharge occurs mainly through infiltration of surface water and percolation from rainfall, while discharge happens at springs, seeps, streams, rivers, or via withdrawals from wells. Aquifers are a primary source of drinking water, irrigation, and industrial supply in many regions. Monitoring and management involve hydrogeological mapping, pumping tests, groundwater level measurements, and modeling to assess sustainable yield and aquifer health. Protection measures focus on safeguarding recharge zones, controlling contamination, and regulating extraction to prevent overuse and land subsidence.

In summary, daquifères, like aquifers, are crucial for regional water security, requiring careful assessment of storage, flow, and human impact to ensure long-term sustainability.