It is the Discharge

We all know the mantra Keep It Simple—the principle KISS. I have been thinking of another mantra for ground water—It Is the Discharge. Let me explain: In a recent conversation with one of my distinguished colleagues, he bemoaned our lack of understanding of ground water recharge. I keep thinking about that conversation. In a broad sense as hydrogeologists, we are hoping to understand how aquifer systems function, more particularly how much water is flowing through a particular system—the focus on recharge is simply one facet of the larger task. In studying the system, there are at least three aspects that we can focus on—(1) the recharge; (2) the aquifer itself as a transmission mechanism; and (3) the discharge from the aquifer.