Understanding Texas Aquifers and Groundwater

ESS Student Page Texas Aquifers Water Name ______________________________ Date ___________________ Period ______ Groundwater lies below the Earth's surface almost everywhere. More than two million cubic miles of fresh water is stored in the Earth, and half of that is within a half mile of the surface. Fifty percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for their daily needs. Groundwater is also one of our most important sources for irrigation. Two major aquifers in Texas are the Edwards Aquifer and Ogallala Aquifer. Stretching across portions of ten counties, the Edwards Aquifer is 180 miles long with a width that varies between five and 40 miles. Its primary geologic component is Edwards limestone, and it is one of the most permeable and productive aquifers in the United States. The Edwards Aquifer occurs in three distinct segments: the drainage zone, the recharge zone and artesian zone. The Edwards Aquifer has supported civilization for more than 12,000 years and today is the primary source of water for about 1.7 million people. The Ogallala Aquifer (pronounced OH-GA-LA-LA) is one of the largest aquifer systems in the world, stretching across parts of eight states South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas and underlying about 174,000 square miles. 1. Use the following website to color and label the following aquifers of Texas on your map http://www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/aquifer/major.asp Ogallala, Gulf Coast, Edwards BFZ, Edwards-Trinity Plateau, Trinity, Carrizo-Wilcox. Be sure to have a legend on your map. 2. Which aquifer supplies our water supply? Trinity 3. The largest aquifer in the world is the Ogallala. Where in Texas is it located? In the panhandle 4. There are many springs in the Austin and San Antonio area. What aquifer is the source of these springs? Edwards Use your book p. 106 – 113 to answer the questions below. 5. Define zone of saturation, water table, and zone of aeration. Zone of Aeration - pores and cracks of rocks are filled with air Zone of Saturation - pores and crack of rocks are filled with water Water Table is the line that separates the two layers 6. How do springs differ from aquifers? Springs have water that flows naturally to the Earth’s surface from an aquifer 7. How do artesian wells differ from aquifers? Artesian wells are man made wells that water flows from without needing a pump updated 8/6/13 Page of

ESS                 Student Page

Texas Aquifers
Water

Name ______________________________
Date ___________________ Period  ______

Groundwater lies below the Earth's surface almost everywhere. More than two million cubic miles of fresh water is stored in the Earth, and half of that is within a half mile of the surface. Fifty percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for their daily needs. Groundwater is also one of our most important sources for irrigation. Two major aquifers in Texas are the Edwards Aquifer and Ogallala Aquifer.

Stretching across portions of ten counties, the Edwards Aquifer is 180 miles long with a width that varies between five and 40 miles. Its primary geologic component is Edwards limestone, and it is one of the most permeable and productive aquifers in the United States. The Edwards Aquifer occurs in three distinct segments: the drainage zone, the recharge zone and artesian zone. The Edwards Aquifer has supported civilization for more than 12,000 years and today is the primary source of water for about 1.7 million people.

The Ogallala Aquifer (pronounced OH-GA-LA-LA) is one of the largest aquifer systems in the world, stretching across parts of eight states South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas and underlying about 174,000 square miles.

1.  Use the following website to color and label the following aquifers of Texas on your map http://www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/aquifer/major.asp  Ogallala, Gulf Coast, Edwards BFZ, Edwards-Trinity Plateau, Trinity, Carrizo-Wilcox. Be sure to have a legend on your map.

2. Which aquifer supplies our water supply?
        Trinity

3. The largest aquifer in the world is the Ogallala. Where in Texas is it located?
        In the panhandle

4. There are many springs in the Austin and San Antonio area. What aquifer is the source of these springs?
        Edwards

Use your book p. 106 – 113 to answer the questions below.
5.  Define zone of saturation, water table, and zone of aeration.

Zone of Aeration - pores and cracks of rocks are filled with air
        
                Zone of Saturation - pores and crack of rocks are filled with water

Water Table is the line that separates the two layers
6. How do springs differ from aquifers?
        Springs have water that flows naturally to the Earth’s surface from an aquifer

7. How do artesian wells differ from aquifers?
        Artesian wells are man made wells that water flows from without needing a pump  
updated 8/6/13                Page  of

Transcript for:Understanding Texas Aquifers and Groundwater

Transcript for:
Understanding Texas Aquifers and Groundwater