What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is an underground body of rock that stores and transmits large volumes of groundwater. An aquifer consists of rocks with interconnected fractures , for example sandstone. Groundwater flows through these pore spaces , the amount and rate of water flow is determined by the size and connection between the spaces.
An aquifer is an underground body of rock that stores and transmits large volumes of groundwater. An aquifer consists of rocks with interconnected fractures , for example sandstone. Groundwater flows through these pore spaces , the amount and rate of water flow is determined by the size and connection between the spaces.
Case Study : The Ogallala Aquifer
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Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer in found in North America, it is one the world's largest aquifer it goes through 8 states it is an aquifer mainly made of porous rocks . Most of the water from the aquifer is found in Nebraska and the water end in arid Texas. The map on the right shows that the breath of the aquifer decreases from North to South. The Ogallala aquifer irrigates for about 30% of the United States, hence the biggest users of the irrigation are irrigation farmers . The aquifer supplies vital drinking water for 82% of the population that live near it, so local population and water extracting companies also use it. The state government is a key player in the use of the Ogallala because they regulate who use the water and how much water should be extracted from different people. USGS look at any traces of contamination in the aquifer. Other players involved in the use of the aquifer are environmental agencies and national governments.
One of the main threats of the aquifer is over-abstraction, farmers around the aquifer tend to use more water than they can actually take, this often leads to less water being available for other users. Over-abstraction in one area could cause other areas to have less water. In addition to that, the rate by which the aquifer is recharged is much slower than the rate by which it is consumed. This is an unsustainable way of using the water. Intensive farming that requires chemicals could lead to contamination of the aquifer, which can affect large proportions of states population.
The management of the Ogollala aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer in found in North America, it is one the world's largest aquifer it goes through 8 states it is an aquifer mainly made of porous rocks . Most of the water from the aquifer is found in Nebraska and the water end in arid Texas. The map on the right shows that the breath of the aquifer decreases from North to South. The Ogallala aquifer irrigates for about 30% of the United States, hence the biggest users of the irrigation are irrigation farmers . The aquifer supplies vital drinking water for 82% of the population that live near it, so local population and water extracting companies also use it. The state government is a key player in the use of the Ogallala because they regulate who use the water and how much water should be extracted from different people. USGS look at any traces of contamination in the aquifer. Other players involved in the use of the aquifer are environmental agencies and national governments.
One of the main threats of the aquifer is over-abstraction, farmers around the aquifer tend to use more water than they can actually take, this often leads to less water being available for other users. Over-abstraction in one area could cause other areas to have less water. In addition to that, the rate by which the aquifer is recharged is much slower than the rate by which it is consumed. This is an unsustainable way of using the water. Intensive farming that requires chemicals could lead to contamination of the aquifer, which can affect large proportions of states population.
The management of the Ogollala aquifer