aquifer

Etymology

From Latin aqua (“water”) + -fer (“-bearing”).

noun

1. An underground layer of water-bearing porous stone, earth, or gravel.
   An aquifer is rock or sediment that holds groundwater – rain that is held below the surface of the soil and collected in empty spaces underground. Aquifers feed rivers to keep their flows at a healthy level, and are also important sources of water when reservoirs or other sources run low. 16 August 2023, Helena Horton, “United Utilities fined £800,000 for taking 22bn litres of water from aquifer”, in The Guardian
   The water in the well came from an aquifer.