What is a flowing artesian well?

A flowing artesian well is characterized by its ability to naturally bring water to the surface without the need for mechanical pumping, and this is due to the presence of underground pressure. In such wells, water is confined in a permeable aquifer that is sandwiched between impermeable layers of rock or clay. When the well is tapped, that underground pressure forces the water to rise through the well, sometimes even reaching the surface, creating a flow. This natural flow is what distinguishes artesian wells from standard wells where pumps are needed to bring water to the surface.

The other options describe different characteristics that do not apply to flowing artesian wells. For instance, the option suggesting a well that only produces water during rainfall does not apply here, as flowing artesian wells can produce water continuously due to the pressure, rather than being contingent on external precipitation. The reference to a well needing manual pumping refers to conventional wells which do not have the natural pressure characteristic of an artesian well. Finally, the positioning of a well above the water table does not accurately represent artesian wells, as these wells typically access water from an aquifer that is under pressure, and their production is related to geological formations rather than mere elevation related to the water table.