What happens to the water table around a pumped well (the cone of depression)?

• A. Rises uniformly
• B. Falls creating a cone of depression
• C. Remains unchanged
• D. Increases water pressure regionally

Answer: (B)

Pumping a well removes water from the aquifer, which lowers the hydraulic head in the surrounding area. Groundwater then flows toward the well to replace what’s been pumped, pulling the water table down near the well and less so farther away. This creates a surface that dips toward the pump—the cone of depression. The lowest point is at the well, with the water table rising gradually as you move away, so the effect is a localized drawdown rather than a uniform rise or no change. Because water is being removed, regional pressure decreases rather than increases, and the water table isn’t unchanged or higher where pumping occurs.