An aquifer is derived from the Latin words aqua ("water") and ferre ("to bear"), implying that an aquifer carries water. Some aquifers are vast, such as the Basalt aquifer which covers around 17% area of the country and is mainly spread over Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. But not vast enough - we're draining them quicker than they can replenish themselves.
Synonyms: Surface water, groundwater, water-bearing stratum
Related Terms: Sedimentation, Geological formation, aquiferous system
