Aquifer An underground body of water held by rock (enough water to be usable)

AquiferAquifer

An underground body of An underground body of water held by rock (enough water held by rock (enough water to be usable)water to be usable)

Water TableWater Table

The level of the water below the The level of the water below the groundground

Examples of AquifersExamples of Aquifers

Good Aquifer/Poor AquiferGood Aquifer/Poor Aquifer

Gravel, sand and Gravel, sand and depositsdeposits

Fractured Fractured (broken up) (broken up) LimestoneLimestone

Solid rock, Solid rock, GraniteGranite

Rocks with poor Rocks with poor permeability permeability

(water cannot pass (water cannot pass though them though them easily)easily)

Different Rock typesDifferent Rock types

1. Granite 1. Granite 2. Gravel 2. Gravel 3. Limestone 3. Limestone

Porosity and Porosity and PermeabilityPermeability Porosity- the percent of the rock Porosity- the percent of the rock

that is made up of spaces (air that is made up of spaces (air holes)holes)

Permeability-how well connected Permeability-how well connected the holes in the rock are, and how the holes in the rock are, and how well water can travel through it. well water can travel through it.

Limestone and Karst Limestone and Karst AquifersAquifers Limestone dissolves because rain Limestone dissolves because rain

water is slightly acidic. Cracks and water is slightly acidic. Cracks and faults form in the limestone, and they faults form in the limestone, and they can grow to be big caves over time. can grow to be big caves over time. (see flyer passed around)(see flyer passed around)

Rio Grande Rift Rio Grande Rift

Albuquerque’s AquiferAlbuquerque’s Aquifer

Aquifers Aquifers in New in New MexicoMexico

Recharge (Inputs)Recharge (Inputs)

Water entering the aquiferWater entering the aquifer Comes from precipitation that Comes from precipitation that

percolates through the groundpercolates through the ground River water can also percolate River water can also percolate

through the ground to recharge through the ground to recharge the aquiferthe aquifer

Ground water recharge is reduced Ground water recharge is reduced when ground surfaces are paved or when ground surfaces are paved or compacted. (Impermeable)compacted. (Impermeable)

DischargeDischarge

Ground water leaves the aquifer Ground water leaves the aquifer through springs and seeps, rivers, through springs and seeps, rivers, lakes and wellslakes and wells

Ground water mining is when Ground water mining is when water is pumped out faster than it water is pumped out faster than it rechargesrecharges

Threats to Threats to groundwater qualitygroundwater quality Faulty or too many septic tanksFaulty or too many septic tanks Agriculture: Too much nutrients like Agriculture: Too much nutrients like

fertilizers or animal waste.fertilizers or animal waste. Agriculture: Chemical pesticidesAgriculture: Chemical pesticides Gas Stations: Leaks in underground fuel Gas Stations: Leaks in underground fuel

tankstanks Dry Cleaners: Spills and leaks of Dry Cleaners: Spills and leaks of

Chemical solventsChemical solvents Other Chemical Leaks or spills.Other Chemical Leaks or spills.

Chemical Plume can travel undergroundChemical Plume can travel underground