What is the drawdown of a well defined as?

The drawdown of a well is defined as the distance between the static water level and the water level when the well is pumped. This definition reflects the change in water level that occurs when water is extracted from the well, indicating how much the water level drops due to the pumping action.

In practical terms, understanding drawdown is crucial for evaluating a well's performance and its ability to supply water over time. Monitoring drawdown can help identify potential issues such as aquifer depletion or well yield limitations. This measurement is key in ensuring the sustainable use of groundwater resources, making it a crucial concept in hydrogeology and well management.

Other choices do not represent the concept of drawdown accurately. Total depth refers to how deep the well goes but does not consider water levels. The volume of water in the well provides a quantitative measure of how much water is present but does not take into account the levels before and during pumping. The rate of water flow describes how quickly water is extracted but does not address the change in water level itself.