How is there enough rainwater to keep aquifers recharged all the time?

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Rain doesn’t come that often, so I can’t imagine how there could be enough to constantly keep the groundwater and aquifers flowing strong. I know there are some other sources like snowmelt too, but rain is the main one and I don’t see it being substantial enough to be able to bring that much water.

In: Earth Science

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Anonymous 0 Comments

> How is there enough rainwater to keep aquifers recharged all the time?

There isn’t, necessarily.
For instance the [Ogallala Aquifer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer), which underlays much of the Great Plains.

> Since 1950, agricultural irrigation has reduced the saturated volume of the aquifer by an estimated 9%. Once depleted, the aquifer will take over 6,000 years to replenish naturally through rainfall.[6]

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