What is the Edwards Aquifer?
Notes:
Diagram © Copyright (1995) by Gregg Eckhardt
The Edwards Aquifer is a karst limestone formation
- Exposed to major erosion during the Cretaceous era
- Created cavities and conduits
- Formation has a very high transmissivity
Divided into three zones:
- Drainage area: aquifer recharge primarily comes from streams
- Recharge zone: last segment of limestone that has not been covered by sediments; streams crossing over recharge zone lose all of their flow to the aquifer during dry periods
- Artesian zone: confined portion; water is under pressure and feeds wells and springs