What term describes the amount of water a well produces for each foot of drawdown?

Specific capacity refers to the measurement of the amount of water a well can produce per unit of drawdown, typically expressed as gallons per minute per foot of drawdown. This term is crucial for understanding the performance of a well, as it indicates how effectively the well can supply water relative to the amount of water level drop within the aquifer.

Specific capacity is an essential parameter for assessing well performance and sustainability, especially in groundwater management and hydrogeological studies. A higher specific capacity usually indicates a well that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water for a relatively small drawdown, suggesting a productive aquifer. This measure helps operators and hydrogeologists evaluate if a well can meet the demands placed upon it while minimizing potential impacts on the surrounding groundwater system.

Well efficiency, while related, specifically refers to the relationship between the actual yield of the well and the total capacity of the well if it functioned perfectly, not simply the output per foot of drawdown. Flow rate is more concerned with the volume of water produced by the well over time, independent of drawdown impact. Aquifer yield refers to the total amount of water that an aquifer can produce under specific conditions rather than the specific performance of an individual well. Thus, specific capacity is