What does it mean if the potentiometric surface does NOT reach above the ground surface?
A)The aquifer does not have any recharge into it and thus is dry.
B)There will never be any artesian wells or springs associated with the aquifer.
C)It will not be possible to pull water out of the aquifer from any type of well.
D)The aquifer does not have a high enough permeability to produce water.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the potentiometric surface does not reach above the ground surface, it means that there is not enough pressure in the aquifer to force water to the surface. This is necessary for artesian wells or springs to occur. However, it is still possible to pull water out of the aquifer from a well that penetrates below the potentiometric surface. The fact that the potentiometric surface doesn't reach above the ground surface doesn't necessarily indicate the reasons described in options A, C, or D.

What Does It Mean If the Potentiometric Surface Does NOT