An Artesian Well: An Innovative Approach to Groundwater Access

Artesian Wells: A New Approach to Groundwater Access

A groundwater well, also known as an artesian, is a new way of accessing groundwater. It is vital for many activities such as drinking water, irrigation and industrial process. Artesian wells are drilled through a confined aquifer—a layer of sediment or rock that contains groundwater—to access pressurized water (Plummer, et al., 2018). This pressure is caused by water from the aquifer being confined between two impermeable layers of rock or clay, and is often referred to as a ‘fossil water’ due to its age (Lecointre et al., 2017). When the well is tapped, the pressurized water rises up to the surface, making it easier to access water without the use of a pump. An artesian-well drilling cost is usually lower than a conventional well. The water can also be accessed without causing any disturbance to the surrounding environment (Plummer, 2018, p. Because they are less susceptible and more resilient to drought, artesian water wells can be reliable than traditional ones.