Final answer:
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, can create fractures that impact aquifers and groundwater reserves, leading to issues like groundwater mining and water supply crises. Deep, confined aquifers are usually safe for drinking water, but overuse and contamination are concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that most closely means a crack in the earth opening from aquifers is perhaps best related to the concept of fracking, which is short for hydraulic fracturing. This is a process where water, sand, and chemicals are injected into the ground to create fractures in the rock, allowing for the extraction of natural resources such as gas and oil.
However, these fractures can also impact groundwater reservoirs. Deep, confined aquifers are typically safe sources of drinking water, but activities like fracking and overuse can lead to water supply issues, such as groundwater depletion, lowering of the water table, and even subsidence or sinkholes.
Regarding aquifers, deep confined ones are often the safest in terms of pathogen contamination. Groundwater is a critical source of fresh water, found in the pores between particles in sand and gravel, or in the fissures in rocks, with aquifers being a common source for wells. It is vital to manage these resources wisely to prevent environmental issues such as a water supply crisis, which can be exacerbated by practices like groundwater mining and fracking.