A Little History.....
In ancient Egypt, the average Joe (spelled Pharoe back then) dug the first water wells by hand. Hands, a pick, shovel, bucket, or other torture implements were the tools of the trade. Times changed and so to has the drilling industry. There are still hand dug wells, but new technology has allowed us to reach deeper, and in more effective ways for the stuff of life. The most modern form of accessing quality aquifers is the drilled well, which allows us to drill 1000 feet and deeper, and to pump water right into your house. Remember - Water comes from your well - not from your tap!
A few definitions:
Static Level - the resting level of the water inside the well.
Surface water - mud puddles, lakes, and any water that is close to the surface of the ground.
Ground water - sub surface water, sometimes contained, sometimes flowing underground.
Aquifer - underground bodies of water.
Artesian - a pressurized aquifer, usually requiring no pump to reach the surface.