What does aquifer recharge refer to?

Aquifer recharge specifically refers to the process through which water enters an aquifer, replenishing the groundwater supply. This can occur through various means, such as precipitation, surface water inflow, or human activities like managed aquifer recharge, where water is intentionally directed to permeate into the ground to refill aquifers. Understanding aquifer recharge is essential in water resource management, particularly in arid regions like Nevada, where water scarcity may be a concern.

The other options do not accurately describe aquifer recharge. The depletion of groundwater resources pertains to the reduction of groundwater levels due to over-extraction, while the discharge of water from a well refers to the extraction process, and the increase of surface water runoff is related to the movement of water over the land rather than its infiltration into an aquifer. Thus, option B directly captures the essence of what aquifer recharge is all about.