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Delivered by: Prodeo Yao Agbotui KAAF University, DoCE. 24th 09 and 01/10 2011
Groundwater systems
What is GW ?
Ground water is that part of the subsurface water which occurs within the saturated zone of the earths crust where all pores are filled with water. It can be reached artificially via wells or by natural flow mechanisms (artesian conditions, springs etc)
Groundwater systems
GW characteristics
Ground water is a huge water resource, but is exhaustible and is unevenly available. Ground water and surface water resources are interrelated should be integrated in water studies. Excessive and continued exploitation of ground water must be avoided because of slow replenishment. Ground water is generally better than surface water in respect of biological characteristics. However surface water is generally better than ground water in terms of chemical characteristics.
Groundwater systems
GW Xtics contd
Considering coverage area and evaporative losses, underground reservoirs storing ground water are more advantageous than surface reservoirs. There is no construction cost involved in underground reservoirs. However, well construction, pumps and energy for pumping water, and maintenance of pumps and wells require money. Siltation of recharge areas may considerably affect groundwater reservoirs.
Groundwater systems
GW Xtics contd
Ground water is generally of uniform temperature and mineral quality and is free of suspended impurities. Ground water source has indefinite life, if properly managed
Groundwater systems
GW occurence
GW occurs in either porous or fractured media GW is found in 2 zones within the subsurfce. These are Vadose(unsaturated) and saturated zones. Vadose zone is under negative or suction pressure.The zone is mad up of has the soil zone, intermediate zone and capillary zones.
Groundwater systems
GW occurence
The water table separates the 2 zones within the gw zones. The gw table is the upper limit of the saturated zone, and it is at 0 piezometric pressure. The saturated zone travels to several 1000m depths, but reachable fresh water occurs within the first 100 200m.
Groundwater systems
GW storage terminology
Aquifer: A saturated underground layer of waterbearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) which stores and transmits water ineconomic quantities. (eg Ogalla(USA), Great Artesian Aquifer (Australia), mesozoic and cenozoic formations and limestone formations in Ghana). Aquitard: A formation of low permeability layer eg clay. Aquiclude (or aquifuge: A solid, impermeable area underlying or overlying an aquifer eg unweathered granite Groundwater systems
Aquifer types
Unconfined aquifer Confined aquifer Artesian aquifer Perched aquifer
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Groundwater systems
Groundwater systems
Groundwater systems
Groundwater systems
Worked examples
1. A ground water basin consists of 20 km2 of plains. The maximum fluctuation of ground water table is 3 m. Assuming a specific yield of 15 %, determine the available ground water storage. 2. In an aquifer whose area is 100 ha, the water table has dropped by 3.0 m. Assuming porosity and specific retention of the aquifer material to be 30 per cent and 10 %, respectively, determine the specific yield of the aquifer and the change in ground water storage.
Groundwater systems
Groundwater systems
Well Hydraulics
A well is a hydraulic structure which, if properly designed and constructed, permits economic withdrawal of water from an aquifer. Cone of depression: The surface of a lowered water table resembles in an aquifer during pumping. Radius of influence of a well: The horizontal distance from the centre of a well to the practical limit of the cone of depression. Drawdown at a location: The difference, measured in the vertical direction, between the initial water table (or the piezometric surface in the confined aquifer) and its lowered level due to pumping at any location within the radius of influence.
Groundwater systems
Well Hydraulics
Well yield : The volume of water discharge, either by pumping or by free flow, per unit time. Specific capacity of a well: Well yield per unit drawdown. Steady or equilibrium condition: When pumping and recharging rates balance each other, such that there is no appreciable drawdown.
Groundwater systems
Equillibrium Eqns
Please refer to diagram on Asawa G.L.(2007) for the derivation of the equillibrium equations. But the notable ones are from eqns 8 19. Example 3 A well with a radius of 0.3 m, including gravel envelope and developed zone, completely penetrates an unconfined aquifer with K = 25 m/day and initial water table at 30 m above the bottom of the aquifer. The well is pumped so that the water level in the well remains at 22 m above the bottom of the aquifer. Assuming that pumping has essentially no effect on water table height at 300 m from the well, determine the steady-state well discharge. Neglect well losses.
Groundwater systems
Non-equillibrium eqns
Is not required for this level. So ignore, but lets talk a little of it.
Groundwater systems
Groundwater exploration
Ground water exploration is the delineation of the water-bearing formations, estimation of their hydrogeologic characteristics and the determination of the quality of water present in these formations. Methods employed are: Remote sensing Near surface geophysics (electrical, seismic reflection and refraction, ground penetrating radar). Limitations of geophysics Well logging (gamma logging, neutron probing, self spontaneous potential, temperature logging, CCTV)
Groundwater systems
Groundwater exploration
Well logging set up An integrated well log
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Groundwater exploration
CCTV view of a well
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Pumping tests
The most effective method for determining aquifer parameters like T, S and K on the basin scale is most effectively done using pumping tests. Measurements during an aquifer test include water levels at observation wells (before the start of pumping, at intervals during pumping, and for some time after pumping), the discharge rate, and the time of any variation in the discharge rate. The following equations can be used from pumping tests for the evaluation of aquifer properties (Pls refer to eqns 20 -22)
Groundwater systems
Groundwater exploration
Test drilling: Test drilling can predict the true hydrogeologic character of subsurface formations by drilling through them, obtaining samples, recording geologic logs, geochemical characterisation of aquifer material and conducting aquifer tests. The methods of drilling include cable tool. forward rotary, reverse drilling, auger drilling, horizontal drilling.
Groundwater systems
End of slide
Groundwater systems
Reading / references
1. Asawa G.L. (2005). Irrigation and water resources engineering. New Age International Publishers, New Delhi. 2. Schwab G.O. et al (1992). Soil and water conservation engineering. John Wiley and Sons, Inc, Ohio. 3. Images from www.en.wikipedia.org 4. Hiscock, K. 2005. Hydrogeology, Principles and Practice. Ch2 5. Domenico, P.A. and Schwartz, FW, 1990. Physical and chemical hydrogeology. Chapters 2 and 3.
Groundwater systems