artesian well

ar·te·sian well  (är-tzhn) n. A well drilled through impermeable strata to reach water capable of rising to the surface by internal hydrostatic pressure. [French artésien, from Old French artesien, of Artois, from Arteis, Artois, France.]

artesian well A water table higher than the well ensures water pressure will consistently force water into an artesian well.

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artesian well [art-teez-yan]

Noun

a well receiving water from a higher altitude, so the water is forced to flow upwards [from Old French Arteis Artois (in N France) where such wells were common]

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artesian well  (är-tzhn) 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.

artesian well

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

artesian well - a well drilled through impermeable strata into strata that receive water from a higher altitude so there is pressure to force the water to flow upward well - a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine