Chapter 7

Aquifers

Jason Baker

What Are They?

Aquifers are underground water resources. They can be in the form of large pools or rivers. They can range in size from a few miles wide up to hundreds of miles wide or long. They can be both fresh and salt water.

Where Are They?

These underground lakes or rivers can be as little as five feet under the ground in some places and as much as two miles down in other places. Every land body on earth has at least one aquifer located under it. Louisiana alone has a number of aquifers located under it. However, these aquifers not only run under Louisiana, they also run under Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and even into Alabama.

Maps:Louisiana Aquifer System (map from the louisiana department of the environment)

How Did They Form?

There are two ways in which aquifers form. The fresh water ones form as a result of thousand of years of rainwater slowly seeping through the surface of the ground where it was trapped and eventually built up. The saltwater ones form by salt water from the oceans being washed on shore and slowly seeping down to the bedrock. The salt water can also go directly into the aquifers through holes deep below the surface.

Evidence!

Evidence of these underground lakes and rivers come in the form of natural springs that occur throughout the state. The water rises up out of the ground where either the surface is very close to the aquifer or the water has pushed its way up through an existing hole in the earth’s surface. More evidence was found when drilling for oil and natural gas began in Louisiana. As the drilling took place the drillers often noticed that they struck large pockets of water instead of oil or gas. This really sparked geological exploration in Louisiana.

Importance

The importance of these aquifers comes into play in the area of water sources. Aquifers are a fairly efficient source of fresh water. The water from these aquifers can be welled and piped into homes fairly efficiently.