Well

What is a well? A well is a shaft sunk into the ground in order to find a supply of water.

Lifting water out of a well.
Video: a video is available by clicking the start arrow.

Wells can only be dug into rocks that hold water. Many rocks don't hold water, so finding water is not guaranteed. Rocks that commonly hold water are chalk, limestone and sandstone. The water level (called the water table) in rocks tends to fall in summer and so the well must be deep enough to reach to the levels that might occur during a summer drought.


A diagram of a well reaching down to rocks containing water.

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