what happens to the water after it is recharged

into an aquifer?

After water is recharged into an aquifer, it may remain there for a long period of time, ranging from weeks to thousands of years. The groundwater in the aquifer can be pumped out for various uses such as for drinking, irrigation or industrial purposes. It can also flow back to the surface through springs and seeps, replenishing rivers, lakes and other surface water bodies. Groundwater can also discharge into wetlands, providing crucial support for their ecological functioning. Additionally, some groundwater can even make its way into the oceans, where it contributes to the formation of saltwater through processes such as oceanic crust alteration.