EARTH SCIENCE
GROUNDWATER
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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the rate of discharge must equal the rate of recharge
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the rate of discharge must be greater than the rate of recharge
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the rate of discharge must fluctuate less that the rate of recharge
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None of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -If water is withdrawn from the ground at a faster rate that it is replenished, either by infiltration from the surface or from streams, then the water table can become lower, resulting in a “cone of depression” around the well.
Detailed explanation-2: -What must happen for the water table to remain unchanged? The rate of discharge should be at the rate of recharge.
Detailed explanation-3: -Initially, water level drops very rapidly in the immediate vicinity of the well. This lowering of the water table is known as drawdown, and may amount to many tens of feet (see figure 1 below).
Detailed explanation-4: -Pumping groundwater faster than it can recharge can lead to dry wells, especially during droughts. Groundwater is a valuable resource both in the United States and throughout the world.