InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Water Science and Society > Student Materials > Section 2: Physical Hydrology > Module 6: Groundwater Hydrology > 6.1 Aquifers and Properties
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: March 31, 2017

6.1 Aquifers and Properties

In the first part of this module, we will focus on the properties of aquifers: What characteristics of a rock or sediment make it a good aquifer? What are the different kinds of aquifers? Fundamentally, the ability to store and transmit water are the two key ingredients that make a subsurface geological formation useful as an aquifer. In Module 6.1, we will explore the detailed physical properties of rocks and sediments that ultimately affect the storage and movement of groundwater. We'll also illustrate with a series of well-known examples of large aquifers tapped for drinking, industrial, and agricultural uses.


These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »