- Definition
An aquifer is an underground layer of rock or soil that holds groundwater, like a natural sponge.
Many towns get their drinking water by pumping it up from an aquifer through a well.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: An aquifer is like a giant, natural sponge made of rock and sand, soaked with water and hidden underground.
Ask your child: Where do you think the water that comes out of a well comes from?
Common mix-up: Many people picture an aquifer as a huge underground lake. It's actually more like a layer of wet sand and gravel, with water filling the tiny spaces between the particles.
Examples
- Rainwater soaking into the ground can slowly refill an aquifer over many years.
- The Oak Ridges Moraine in Ontario contains aquifers that provide drinking water to many communities.
- Geysers and natural springs are often places where water from an aquifer comes to the surface.
aquifer is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
