artesian well

noun
1.
a well in which water rises under pressure from a permeable stratum overlaid by impermeable rock.
Origin
1855-60
Examples from the web for artesian well
  • Pumping an artesian well lowers the pressure in the well relative to that in the surrounding aquifer.
  • The pressure of water from an artesian well can be quite dramatic.
  • It was built over the town's artesian well to provide protection and shade.
  • Benches were placed around the artesian well to provide a recreational spot for the towns people.
  • Another artesian well suddenly began feeding water to an old water trough.
  • The water level in an artesian well stands some distance above the top of the aquifer it taps.
  • On the day it was moved, lemonade made with artesian well water was served.
  • The west side offices and residences are serviced by a deep artesian well that requires no pumping.
  • The first artesian well was drilled on his property.
  • The water level in an artesian well stands above the top of the artesian water body it taps.
British Dictionary definitions for artesian well

artesian well

/ɑːˈtiːzɪən; -ʒən/
noun
1.
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
Word Origin
C19: from French artésien, from Old French Arteis Artois, old province, where such wells were common
Word Origin and History for artesian well

see artesian

artesian well in Science
artesian well
  (är-tē'zhən)   

A deep well that passes through impermeable rock or sediment and reaches water that is held under pressure in a confined aquifer. In aquifers of this type, the water in the lower regions is trapped between two layers of impermeable rock and cannot rise to the level of the water table in the upper, unconfined regions. When a well penetrates the confined region, the pressure forces the water to rise within the well until it reaches the elevation of the water table in the unconfined region (a level known as the potentiometric surface). ◇ In a flowing artesian well the water is under enough pressure to rise all the way to the surface without being pumped and must be capped to control the flow.
Encyclopedia Article for artesian well

a man-made spring from which water flows under natural pressure without pumping. It is dug or drilled wherever a gently dipping, permeable rock layer (such as sandstone) receives water along its outcrop at a level higher than the level of the surface of the ground at the well site. At the outcrop the water moves down into the aquifer (water-bearing layer) but is prevented from leaving it by impermeable rock layers (such as shale) above and below it. Pressure from the water's weight (hydrostatic pressure) forces water to the surface of a well drilled down into the aquifer; the pressure for the steady upflow is maintained by the continuing penetration of water into the aquifer at the intake area.

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