artesian well

artesian wellA water table higher than the well ensures water pressure will consistently force water into the well.

ar·te·sian well

A0442800 (är-tē′zhən)n. A well drilled through impermeable strata to reach water capable of rising to the surface by internal hydrostatic pressure.

[French artésien, from Old French artesien, of Artois, from Arteis, Artois, France.]

artesian well

(ɑːˈtiːzɪən; -ʒən) n (General Engineering) a well sunk through impermeable strata into strata receiving water from an area at a higher altitude than that of the well, so that there is sufficient pressure to force water to flow upwards[C19: from French artésien, from Old French Arteis Artois, old province, where such wells were common]

ar•te′sian well′

(ɑrˈti ʒən)
n. a well in which water rises under pressure from a permeable stratum overlaid by impermeable rock. [< French artésien pertaining to Artois, where wells of this kind are found]

artesian wellIf the water table in the recharge area is higher than the surface of a well, then the water will flow from the well without being pumped.

ar·te·sian well

(är-tē′zhən) A deep well that passes through hard, nonporous rock or sediment and reaches an aquifer in which the water is under enough pressure to rise to a height above the water table. ♦ In a flowing artesian well the water is under enough pressure to rise to the surface without being pumped.

Thesaurus

Noun

artesian well - a well drilled through impermeable strata into strata that receive water from a higher altitude so there is pressure to force the water to flow upwardwell - a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine

Translations

artesian well

artesian well,

deep drilled wellwell,
aperture in the earth's surface through which substances in a natural underground reservoir, such as water, gas, oil, salt, and sulfur, can flow or be pumped to the surface. In the United States, until some years after the Civil War, the majority of wells were "open," i.e.
..... Click the link for more information. through which water is forced upward under pressure. The water in an artesian well flows from an aquifer, which is a layer of very porous rock or sediment, usually sandstone, capable of holding and transmitting large quantities of water. The geologic conditions necessary for an artesian well are an inclined aquifer sandwiched between impervious rock layers above and below that trap water in it. Water enters the exposed edge of the aquifer at a high elevation and percolates downward through interconnected pore spaces. The water held in these spaces is under pressure because of the weight of water in the portion of the aquifer above it. If a well is drilled from the land surface through the overlying impervious layer into the aquifer, this pressure will cause the water to rise in the well. In areas where the slope of the aquifer is great enough, pressure will drive the water above ground level in a spectacular, permanent fountain. Artesian springs can occur in similar fashion where faults or cracks in the overlying impervious layer allow water to flow upward. Water from an artesian well or spring is usually cold and free of organic contaminants, making it desirable for drinking. In North America, the Dakota sandstone provides aquifers for an artesian system that underlies parts of the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, and Saskatchewan and supplies great quantities of water to the dry Great Plains region. Many East Coast cities derive their water supplies from aquifers that are exposed along the edge of the Piedmont and dip downward toward the Atlantic coast. The largest artesian system in the world underlies nearly all of E and S Australia. Other important artesian systems serve London, Paris, and E Algeria.

artesian well

[är′tē·zhən ′wel] (hydrology) A well in which the water rises above the top of the water-bearing bed.

artesian well

a well sunk through impermeable strata into strata receiving water from an area at a higher altitude than that of the well, so that there is sufficient pressure to force water to flow upwards

artesian well

ar·te·sian well

artesian well

ar•te′sian well′

ar·te·sian well

artesian well

artesian well,

artesian well

artesian well

artesian well

Words related to artesian well

noun a well drilled through impermeable strata into strata that receive water from a higher altitude so there is pressure to force the water to flow upward

Related Words