Question

People drill water wells for their homes above the water table. As more homes are built, the number of wells increases. When the amount of water pumped out is greater than the amount that is replaced, the existing water cycle can be disrupted. Which two effects will drilling many wells have on the existing hydrologic cycle?

A. Drilling many wells will lower the water table.
B. Drilling many wells will speed up the water cycle.
C. Drilling many wells will cause water to evaporate faster.
D. Drilling many wells will prevent water from entering the ground.
E. Drilling many wells will cause less water to flow into lakes and streams.

Answer 1

Drilling many wells will a. lower the water table and c. cause less water to flow into lakes and streams.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effects of drilling many wells on the existing hydrologic cycle include:

1. Drilling many wells will lower the water table. When groundwater is pumped from wells, there is a drop in the water table around the well called a cone of depression. With a large number of wells pumping water, the regional water table can drop significantly, which can lead to depletion of the aquifers and the need to drill deeper and more expensive wells.
2. Drilling many wells will cause less water to flow into lakes and streams. As water is pumped from wells, less water is available to flow into surface water bodies like lakes and streams. This can lead to depletion of these water sources and have negative consequences for ecosystems and human water supply.