Differentiate between the following; ordinary well and artesian well?

An ordinary well is a man-made structure that is dug or drilled into the ground to access groundwater. It relies on a pump to bring the water to the surface. An artesian well, on the other hand, is a natural well where water flows to the surface under its own pressure. This pressure is created by water being confined in an underground aquifer between impermeable rock layers. As a result, water in an artesian well typically rises above the level of the aquifer without the need for a pump.

Ordinary Well

- Definition: A well dug or drilled into the ground that taps into an unconfined aquifer.
- Aquifer: Unconfined, meaning it is not overlain by impermeable rock layers.
- Water Level: The water table, which is the upper surface of the unconfined aquifer.
- Pumping Mechanism: Can be either hand-operated (e.g., bucket and rope) or mechanical (e.g., submersible pump).
- Depth: Typically shallow, less than 100 feet.
- Reliability: Can fluctuate or dry up during droughts or periods of high water usage.
- Yield: Lower than artesian wells due to the limited size of the aquifer.

Artesian Well

- Definition: A well drilled into the ground that taps into a confined aquifer.
- Aquifer: Confined, meaning it is sandwiched between impermeable rock layers.
- Water Level: Above the ground surface due to the pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying rock layers.
- Pumping Mechanism: Typically mechanical due to the high water pressure.
- Depth: Can be deep, hundreds or thousands of feet.
- Reliability: Usually more reliable as the water level is not directly affected by surface conditions.
- Yield: Higher than ordinary wells due to the larger size and pressure of the aquifer.