What is the specific capacity of a water well?

The specific capacity of a water well is defined as the rate of discharge of a well per unit of drawdown. This measurement is crucial for understanding how efficiently a well can yield water relative to the decrease in water level (drawdown) caused by pumping. High specific capacity indicates that the well can produce a significant amount of water with relatively low drawdown, which is desirable for efficient water supply and management.

This concept is particularly important for water resource management and assessing the sustainability of water supply from the well. It allows well owners and hydrogeologists to evaluate the productivity of different wells and make informed decisions regarding water extraction.

The other options do not accurately represent the concept of specific capacity. The volume of water in a well, the total depth of a well, and the pressure exerted by the water are related to different aspects of well performance but do not provide the specific relationship between discharge and drawdown that defines specific capacity. Therefore, the definition that involves discharge rate per unit of drawdown is the key characteristic that identifies the specific capacity of a water well.