**Aquifers: The Resource**

cians, researchers, and professionals working in this field. The book project *Aquifers* could not have been possible without the hard work of many eminent professionals, hydrologists, geologists, water resources engineers, scholars, and scientists the world over who undertook analysis of problems and issues, conducted research, found out remedies and solutions, and

The steadfast attitude, focus on results, and concern for timelines displayed by Ms. Renata Sliva and Ms. Ivana Glavic, Author Service Managers of Intech Open Access Publisher, are recognized for constantly reminding us of the deadlines to be met. The forbearance of our spouses, Sultana Salik and Maher Nigar Shaukat, during the period we were working on this book is heartily appreciated. The management of Abasyn University is also thanked for pro‐ viding us with the academic platform and institutional resources to undertake this assignment. Finally, the entire concept of IntechOpen Access Publishing is lauded for its global outreach

**Dr. Muhammad Salik Javaid,**

**Dr. Shaukat Ali Khan**

Pakistan

Pakistan

Abasyn University, Islamabad Campus

Abasyn University, Peshawar Campus

authored these chapters.

VIII Preface

and universal benefit to the human race.

**Chapter 1**

**Provisional chapter**

**Introductory Chapter: Aquifers Today and Tomorrow**

As defined in many scientific texts "An aquifer is an underground layer of water bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated material from which groundwater can be extracted using water well" [1]. Related terms used are aquitard, which is a bed of low permeability along an aquifer, and aquiclude, which is a solid, impermeable area underlying or overlying an aquifer, making an aquifer confined or unconfined. Aquifer system is a series of two or more aquifers hydraulically connected with each other. If an aquifer or an aquifer system spans more than one state, it is called transboundary aquifer [2]. An aquifer is therefore the combination of both; an underground rock structure, and water mass existing in the pores and voids. Aquifers contain by far the largest volume of unfrozen fresh water on earth thus making it an enormously important natural resource, entrusted to us by the Mother Nature for equitable use and safe custody for the next generations to come. Because of the fact that aquifer is hidden to the eye, therefore till today they are poorly known and understood by the

Aquifer, the solid rock structure and fluid occupying the interstices, being a transitional resource has been prone to exploitations, silent revolutions and progressive pollutant attacks inherent to modern lifestyles. A considerable amount of risk and uncertainty is therefore attached to the aquifers because of stresses on groundwater systems produced inherent to modern domestic and industrial life patterns. At present, the key issues related to the aquifers

**Introductory Chapter: Aquifers Today and Tomorrow**

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.75800

Muhammad Salik Javaid and Shaukat Ali Khan

Muhammad Salik Javaid and Shaukat Ali Khan

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75800

common masses and decision makers alike.

**1. Introduction**

**2. Aquifers today**

may be summed up as:

#### **Introductory Chapter: Aquifers Today and Tomorrow Introductory Chapter: Aquifers Today and Tomorrow**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.75800

Muhammad Salik Javaid and Shaukat Ali Khan Muhammad Salik Javaid and Shaukat Ali Khan

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75800

**1. Introduction**

As defined in many scientific texts "An aquifer is an underground layer of water bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated material from which groundwater can be extracted using water well" [1]. Related terms used are aquitard, which is a bed of low permeability along an aquifer, and aquiclude, which is a solid, impermeable area underlying or overlying an aquifer, making an aquifer confined or unconfined. Aquifer system is a series of two or more aquifers hydraulically connected with each other. If an aquifer or an aquifer system spans more than one state, it is called transboundary aquifer [2]. An aquifer is therefore the combination of both; an underground rock structure, and water mass existing in the pores and voids. Aquifers contain by far the largest volume of unfrozen fresh water on earth thus making it an enormously important natural resource, entrusted to us by the Mother Nature for equitable use and safe custody for the next generations to come. Because of the fact that aquifer is hidden to the eye, therefore till today they are poorly known and understood by the common masses and decision makers alike.
