artesian water Groundwater that is confined in an aquifer, but which may overflow on to the land surface via artificial boreholes or, sometimes, natural springs, because of the high hydraulic head that may be developed in a confined aquifer. Artesian conditions are common when the aquifer has a synclinal form. The London Basin, England, provided artesian water during the nineteenth century from a chalk aquifer sealed by clays. The term is derived from the Artois region of north-western France.

artesian water Groundwater that is confined in an aquifer, but which may overflow on to the land surface via artificial boreholes or, sometimes, natural springs, because of the high hydraulic head that may be developed in a confined aquifer. Artesian conditions are common when the aquifer has a synclinal form. The London Basin, England, provided artesian water during the nineteenth century from a chalk aquifer sealed by clays. The term is derived from the Artois region of north-western France.

artesian water Ground water that originally is confined in an aquifer and that reaches the land surface owing to the high hydraulic pressure that may be developed in a confined aquifer when this has a synclinal form. The London Basin, England, provided artesian water during the nineteenth century from a chalk aquifer sealed by clays. Many desert oases are created by the emergence of artesian water in springs or pools.

artesian well (overflowing well) A well that flows at the surface without pumping, because it is sunk into a confined aquifer whose hydraulic head (sometimes called the potentiometric or piezometric head) lies above ground level. See AQUIFER; and ARTESIAN WATER.

artesian well(overflowing well) A well that flows at the surface without pumping, because it is sunk into a confined aquifer whose hydraulic head (sometimes called the potentiometric or piezometric head) lies above ground level. See artesian water.