Move the slider bar to adjust the well location and flip the switch to turn the pump on.
A gaining stream is one where water flows from the aquiferAn aquifer is the area saturated with water beneath the water table. towards the stream. Wells pump water from the aquifer, which means that pumping can intercept water that would have otherwise flowed to the stream. Pumping also lowers the local water tableThe upper level of the underground area in which the soil and rocks are saturated with water., and if a well is located near a stream, pumping is expected to reduce the flow of water from the aquifer to the stream. In some cases, the pumping may turn a gaining stream into a losing streamA stream is losing in reaches where water flows from a stream towards the aquifer. by reversing the direction of groundwater flow (see the next simulation). While the effects of groundwater pumping appear immediate in this simulation, they may take years to appear in reality. The farther a well is from a stream, the longer it typically takes for the groundwater pumping to affect the stream. The timing also depends on the aquifer soil texture.

Move the slider bar to adjust the well location and flip the switch to turn the pump on.
A losing stream is one where water flows from a stream towards the aquifer. The pumping of a well contributes to stream. A well located near a stream is expected to further lower the water tableThe upper level of the underground area in which the soil and rocks are saturated with water. and increase flow of water from the stream to the aquifer. While the effects appear immediate in this simulation, they may take years to appear in reality. The farther a well is from a stream, the longer it typically takes for the depletions to affect the stream. The timing also depends on the aquifer soil texture. In some cases groundwater pumping may cause a losing stream to become a disconnected streamA disconnected stream is separated from the water table by unsaturated soil or rock. by drawing down the water table below the streambed (see next simulation).

Move the slider bar to adjust the well location and flip the switch to turn the pump on.
A disconnected stream is separated from the water tableThe upper level of the underground area in which the soil and rocks are saturated with water. by unsaturated soil or rock. The pumping of a well is expected to draw down the water table, but triggers no stream depletionStream depletion is reduction in streamflow due to groundwater pumping in a system in which surface water and groundwater are connected.. The location of a well has no impact on streamflows because the aquiferThe area saturated with water beneath the water table. is not connected to the stream. A stream may be naturally disconnected or may become disconnected as a result of groundwater pumping.

Move the slider bar to adjust the level of groundwater extraction.
Stream connectivity can change as a result of groundwater pumping. No matter where a well is located, if more water is being pumped out of the aquiferAn aquifer is the area saturated with water beneath the water table. than is being replaced, the groundwater level will drop. That change in the aquifer will affect the stream, although it may take longer if the well is farther away. The decrease in groundwater level will also affect other nearby groundwater users’ ability to pump water. If there is enough pumping, gaining streamsA gaining stream is one where water flows from the aquifer towards the stream. can become losing streamsA losing stream is one where water flows from a stream towards the aquifer., or even disconnected streamsA disconnected stream is separated from the water table by unsaturated soil or rock..

Groundwater Level

without pumping

with pumping

Depletion

Stream Level

without pumping

with pumping

Depletion

No depletion