What might cause a well to hold less water each year?
1. The rocks in the well become harder
2. An earthquake shifted the aquifer to a new spot
3. The aquifer has slowly become dry overtime
4. The groundwater reaches freezing temperature
Pick one option
Option 3. The aquifer has slowly become dry overtime
The option that might cause a well to hold less water each year is:
3. The aquifer has slowly become dry over time
To determine what might cause a well to hold less water each year, let's analyze the given options:
1. The rocks in the well become harder: This is unlikely to significantly affect the water holding capacity of the well. The hardness of rocks does not directly impact the volume of water that can be stored in an aquifer.
2. An earthquake shifted the aquifer to a new spot: While an earthquake can cause changes in the aquifer's structure, such as the displacement of rocks and sediments, it is not a typical or common reason for a well to hold less water each year. It is a less probable explanation.
3. The aquifer has slowly become dry overtime: This is a potential reason for a well holding less water each year. If the water extraction from the aquifer exceeds the recharge rate (the amount of water replenishing the aquifer), the water level can decline over time, resulting in less water available in the well.
4. The groundwater reaches freezing temperature: This is not likely to be the cause of the well holding less water each year. Freezing temperatures affect the movement of water but not the total amount of water stored in the aquifer.
Considering the given options, option 3, "The aquifer has slowly become dry overtime," is the most likely cause for a well to hold less water each year.