a hypothetical surface defined by the level to which water in a confined aquifer rises in observation boreholes.
A surface that represents the level to which water will rise in tightly cased wells. If the head varies significantly with depth in the aquifer, then there may be more than one potentiometric surface. The water table is a particular potentiometric surface for an unconfined aquifer.
The elevation to which water in an artesian system would rise if unimpeded; where there are flowing artesian wells, the potentiometric surface lies above ground.
The potential level to which water will rise above the water level in an aquifer in a well that penetrates a confined aquifer; if the potential level is higher than the land surface, the well will overflow. See artesian well and confined aquifer.
An imaginary surface representing the static head of ground water in tighty cased wells that tap a water-bearing rock unit (aquifer); or, in the case of unconfined aquifers, the water table.
The level to which the water in an artesian aquifer would rise if unaffected by friction with the surrounding rocks and sediments.
An imaginary surface representing the static head of ground water and defined by the level to which water will rise in a tightly cased well.
The level to which water will rise in a well that penetrates an aquifer. In an unconfined aquifer, it is equivalent to the water table.
an imaginary surface that represents the level to which water rises in wells in a confined aquifer; (similar to the water table of an unconfined aquifer)
An imaginary surface representing the total head of ground water.
The level to which water rises in a tightly cased well constructed in a confined aquifer. In an unconfined aquifer, the potentiometric surface is the water table. The term piezometric is sometimes used in place of potentiometric.
The surface to which water in an aquifer can rise by hydrostatic pressure.
An imaginary surface formed by measuring the level to which water will rise in wells of a particular aquifer. For an unconfined aquifer the potentiometric surface is the water table; for a confined aquifer it is the static level of water in the wells. (Also known as the piezometric surface.)
The surface defined by contouring the elevations of water levels tapping a confined aquifer system. This surface represents a map of hydraulic head in the aquifer system and defines the general direction of horizontal ground-water flow.
the two-dimensional surface which describes the elevation of the water table. In an unconfined aquifer, the potentiometric surface is at the top of the water level. In a confined aquifer, the potentiometric surface is above the top of the water level because the water is under confining pressure.
An imaginary surface in a confined aquifer which coincides with the hydrostatic pressure level of the water in the aquifer.
A surface that represents the level to which water will rise in a tightly cased well.
A surface that represents the total head in an aquifer; it represents the height at which the water level stands in tightly cased wells that penetrate the aquifer.
an imaginary surface defined by the level to which water in an aquifer would rise in a well due to the natural pressure in the rocks.
A pressure level in a confined aquifer, defined by the level to which water rises in wells.
The level to which water will rise in cased wells or other cased excavations into aquifers, measured as feet above mean sea level.
Same as piezometric surface.