A well drilled into a water table aquifer is usually a ______ well.

A well drilled into a water table aquifer is classified as a shallow well because water table aquifers are typically located close to the surface of the ground. Shallow wells draw water from the uppermost layer of the aquifer where the water is stored in the pore spaces of the soil and rock.

In contrast, deep wells penetrate further down to access confined aquifers or locations where the water table is significantly deeper. Artisan wells, while important, refer specifically to scenarios where pressure causes water to rise above the aquifer without pumping, commonly found in confined aquifers. Monitoring wells are installed primarily for observation and testing of groundwater levels and quality, rather than for the purpose of extraction.

Understanding these definitions and classifications helps in recognizing the specific traits of various well types and their relationship to groundwater sources.