Final answer:
If groundwater is removed from an aquifer by overpumping, a cone of depression will form. Adding water to a recharge area can increase groundwater amounts, prevent cones of depression, and maintain ecological balance, as it replenishes the aquifer and stabilizes the water table.
Step-by-step explanation:
If groundwater is removed from an aquifer by overpumping, a cone of depression will form. This occurs when there is a localized drop in the water table surrounding the well as water is pumped out, appearing as a cone-shaped dip in the water table.
The formation of a cone of depression can result in negative consequences such as groundwater mining, where the regional water table can significantly drop, which is problematic because the process can lead to saltwater intrusion, subsidence, and the depletion of interconnected surface water sources such as rivers and lakes.
Adding water to a recharge area will have the practical effect of increasing the amount of groundwater (Option A). The addition of water allows more water to percolate down and replenish the aquifer, which can help to stabilize the water table and reduce the potential for cones of depression to form.
Overpumping and depletion of aquifers can result in environmental impacts such as the loss of streamflow and increased potential for contamination.
Groundwater is a vital resource stored in the subsurface in the pores of soil and rocks. It is important for maintaining streams and lakes as well as providing water for drinking and irrigation. However, aquifers can be depleted faster than they are replenished, leading to long-term water resource issues.
Groundwater contamination is a significant concern; pollutants such as sewage, industry waste, and agricultural runoff can create contaminant plumes that spread, potentially compromising wells and other water supplies.
Preventing overpumping and ensuring adequate recharge of groundwater is critical to the health of ecosystems and human communities that rely on these resources.