If a confined aquifer's recharge area is elevated, what can be said about the water in the aquifer?

When considering a confined aquifer with an elevated recharge area, the water within it is subject to hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of the overlying water and sediment. This pressure typically results in the water being under pressure, meaning it is contained between aquitards or impermeable layers, preventing it from easily flowing to the surface. When tapped by a well, the water in a confined aquifer can rise above the level of the aquifer itself due to this pressure, potentially even flowing freely without the need for pumping. This phenomenon reflects the hydraulic head that develops due to the elevation of the recharge area, indicating that the water is indeed under pressure.

Contamination, stagnation, and atmospheric pressure are less characteristic of confined aquifers with elevated recharge areas specifically, as these factors would depend more on local geological conditions and human impacts rather than the fundamental behavior of confined systems.