Springs and Wells
By: Keltsy and Mary B.
Springs
The movement of groundwater is determined by the water tables slope. Like surface water, groundwater tends to move downslope, and toward lower elevations. If the water table reaches Earths surface, water will flow out of the ground, therefore forming a spring. Springs are very important sources of drinking water.
Artesian Springs
An artesian formation is where a sloping layer of permeable rock is squished between two layers of impermeable rock. The permeable rock is an aquifer, and the impermeable rock that is the top layer is called a cap rock. Artesian formations are the source of water for artesian springs. Artesian springs are springs whose water flows from cracks in the cap rock of the aquifer. Most of the springs have cool water. However, some springs tend to have hot water. The water becomes hot when it flows deep into the Earth, because Earths temperature increases as the depth increases.
Examples of Artesian Springs:
All about Wells:
Wells
Wells are human-made holes that are deeper than the level of the water table. If the wells are not deep enough, they will dry up when the water tables fall below the bottom of the well. Also, if a particular area has too many wells, groundwater can be removed at too fast of a pace. If this happens, the water table will drop, and all the wells will run dry.