What term refers to the rate of water withdrawal that a well can supply over a long period of time?

The correct term for the rate of water withdrawal that a well can supply over a long period of time is "well yield." This term specifically describes the sustainable amount of water that a well can deliver without causing significant changes to the groundwater levels or the health of the aquifer it draws from. Well yield is typically measured in gallons per minute (GPM) and is a critical factor in assessing whether a well can meet the long-term water supply needs for domestic, agricultural, or industrial purposes.

Understanding well yield is essential for water resource management, as it informs decisions on well location, design, and usage. It helps ensure the well can provide an adequate water supply without depleting the source. Other terms, while related, do not capture this specific long-term capability of the well in the same way that well yield does. Well capacity may suggest the maximum volume the well can hold at any given time, but it doesn't imply how much can be continuously withdrawn sustainably. Water flow rate is a broader term that might refer to any rate of water movement, not necessarily linked to a well's sustainable output, while pumping rate typically refers to the temporary extraction rate during active water withdrawal rather than the long-term supply capability of the well.