Great Artesian Basin

The Great Artesian Basin is a vast groundwater system beneath parts of Australia, where water stored in sedimentary rocks is confined under pressure and can rise naturally through wells and springs.

Artesian aquifer: A confined aquifer in which groundwater is under enough pressure to rise above the aquifer when tapped. The basin’s pressurized groundwater makes it one of the world’s largest artesian systems.
Bore (well): A narrow drilled hole that provides access to groundwater. Thousands of bores tap the basin for towns, livestock, and other uses.
Eromanga Basin: A large sedimentary basin in central and eastern Australia, forming a major part of the Great Artesian Basin. Its aquifers contribute extensively to the groundwater system’s eastern and central areas.
Groundwater depletion: A sustained decline in groundwater storage caused when withdrawals exceed replenishment. Heavy pumping can lower pressure and reduce water available to other users and springs.
Aquifer: A permeable geological formation that stores and transmits groundwater. The basin is a connected system of aquifers within sedimentary rocks.
GABSI: The Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, an Australian program that funds bore rehabilitation and water-saving infrastructure. Its bore-capping and piping projects reduce wastage from uncontrolled artesian flows.
Carpentaria Basin: A sedimentary basin in northern Australia that forms part of the Great Artesian Basin. Its geological formations extend the groundwater system into the north.
Groundwater management: The regulation and planning of groundwater withdrawals to balance human use and aquifer sustainability. Basin-wide management coordinates extraction across jurisdictions and competing demands.
Hydraulic head: The elevation to which groundwater rises in a well, reflecting its pressure and gravitational energy. Differences in hydraulic head drive water toward flowing bores and springs.
Great Artesian Basin springs: Groundwater discharge sites where water from the Great Artesian Basin reaches the land surface. Springs are natural outlets that sustain distinctive wetlands and wildlife.

Linked from 4 pages