Final answer:
The consequence of Groundwater Depletion is a lowered water table, leading to environmental and economic issues such as drying wells, higher costs, land subsidence, and damage to ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consequences of Groundwater Depletion
Groundwater depletion refers to the reduction of water within an aquifer or other underground water source due to persistent extraction. This phenomenon is often exacerbated by a lack of sufficient recharge, which is the process of water percolating down from the surface and refilling an aquifer. One major consequence of groundwater depletion is a lowered water table. The water table is the upper surface of the zone of saturation, where the pores and fractures in the ground are saturated with water. As groundwater is drawn out, the water table drops, reflecting a decrease in the available groundwater. This can lead to several environmental and economic problems, such as the drying up of wells, increased cost for deeper drilling, land subsidence, and ecosystem damage.