Groundwater catchment and extraction

A distinction is made between meteoric waters and juvenile waters. Juvenile waters, which originate by synthesis under high pressure and very high temperature for the first time at the level of the earth's crust, are of no interest to water distributors: they appear to be of little importance.

Water of meteoric origin, which originates in the infiltration of rainwater, is classified as surface water, which returns to the surface after a relatively short journey, and deep water, which is practically immobile or flows at very low velocity. Deep water, sometimes referred to as fossil water, is found at depths of up to 10 km. Except in specific cases, it is of no interest to the water supplier, as it is non-renewable, at least on a human timescale....