The lowered surface of the water table around a well forms a conical depression in the water table. It is called the cone of depression . If significant quantities of water are withdrawn from a well, the cone of depression may be so large that it affects the water level of other wells nearby. In New Orleans, the dead are buried in above ground tombs because the water table is very near the ground surface. Aquifers and aquicludes An aquifer is a water-bearing rock.
Aquifers have high porosity and high permeability.
Aquicludes are water- excluding rocks. They have little or no porosity or permeability. Note that some impermeable rock types may serve as aquifers if they are highly jointed. Water may be in the joints or cracks in the rock. Look at diagrams in textbook.