Groundwater

Groundwater is water which is located beneath the Earth’s surface. This water resides in the soil pores and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock which can yield a usable quantity of water is called an aquifer. The depth at which a soil pore fractures and becomes a void in the rock which is completely saturated with water is called the water table. Groundwater will recharge once used from the springs and wetlands. Groundwater is often used as our drinking water, for agricultural purposes and for industrial purposes. It is extracted from an aquifer through wells.

Groundwater was traditionally thought of as liquid water flowing through shallow aquifers. Although this is true, it can also include soil moisture, permafrost, immobile water in low permeability bedrock and deep geothermal water. Hypothetically, groundwater is thought of as the lubrication which allows the earth to move through faults.

Groundwater is being utilized all around the world. It is a renewable resource until it is over-used or as it’s called overdrafting. Putting groundwater into overdraft can have devastating effects. It can lower the water table and therefor cause the wells to have to be drilled deeper. Many ecosystems rely heavily on groundwater to provide a habitat.

Groundwater is also susceptible to pollutants. When pollutants are on the ground, they can make their way down to the groundwater. This can contaminate the aquifer and in some cases make it completely unusable. The interaction of groundwater contaminates with surface waters is studied using hydrology transport models.

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Isotope Chemistry of Groundwater

What is meant by the path of rainfall from the atmosphere to the saturated portion of an unconfined aquifer? Can you identify and explain the quantities you would need to measure or estimate in order to calculate potential recharge from rainfall data? How does the oxygen, carbon and hydrogen isotope chemistry of groundwaters

Spatial Distribution

The attachment shows two sets of histograms, showing nitrate and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations in each groundwater block of the London Basin region. (a) I would like to know the spatial distribution of elevated nitrate levels in groundwater. What factors might explain this distribution? (b) What is the spatial di

Aquifer Parameters

An abstraction well is tested at a constant rate of 2730 m^3/d. An observation well is located at 122m from the pumped well. The drawdown measurements in the observation well are recorded and shown in the attached table. Using the Jacob straightline approximation method, estimate the aquifer parameters T & S.

Hydraulic Conductivity

A sample of drill core collected from an unconfined sandstone aquifer was tested using a constant head permeameter with a radius of 3cm at 20°C and provided the following data: Flow rate = 0.18 cm3/min Distance between manometers = 5 cm Difference in head between manometers = 2.8 cm A well in the same aquifer was pumped

Environmental Management

Compare and contrast the secondary water treatment methods to the tertiary water treatment It is a common practice, particularly in the Western United States, to treat wastewater to a very high level, and then inject it back into ground, where it can be used to replenish the groundwater table. Suppose that you are managing a

Differences between groundwater to streams and rivers separately

Hello. I cannot answer these two questions for my homework assignment. Here are the questions... 1. Compare the differences between groundwater to streams and rivers separately. 2. What are the major geological impacts running water and groundwater have on people?

Groundwater Remediation

What is an in-situ methods to remediate a plume of chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater in sandy soils? (process, different streams, disposal of byproducts, reagents used, equipment used, permit requirements, cost comparison, and factors that affect the selection process.)

Above-ground Treatment of Contaminated Groundwater

If groundwater from a contaminated plume is pumped out using strategically placed wells to contain the contamination. What options do you have to dispose of the pumped groundwater?

Write a narrative using the questions to describe the ground water feature you have selected.

Write a narrative using the questions to describe the ground water feature you have selected. Identify the geographical location (city, state, and county) of this feature. Answer the following questions in your narrative. 1. how was this feature formed? what forces, over a period of time, contributed to its formation? 2

Groundwater

Briefly describe each feature associated with groundwater: water table, aquifer, well, cave,karst topography, and geothermal energy. Describe the characteristics of each feature and how it is related to groundwater. I do not understand the process, so can you provide some insight? Thank you.

You are the environmental manager of the site and there has been a release of VOC's and metals onto the ground surface and have migrated into the subsurface sediments and groundwater.

You are the environmental manager of the site and there has been a release of VOC's and metals onto the ground surface and have migrated into the subsurface sediments and groundwater. The underlying aquifer is very close to the surface, only about 2 feet< and the groundwater generally flows toward the lake. From benchmarks, the

Leachate from landfills- example and health effects

I am trying to understand the effects of leachate from landfills and its effects on groundwater, and since I am in environmental health- its effects on the human health. Can anyone help explain these concepts to me? Also, does anyone know of any examples where leachate became a problem? Why is it important to study?

Leachate- from landfills and groundwater

Well I am studying for my groundwater and soil class, and came across a section in my textbook that is not explained very well. It talks about leachate from landfills, but does not go in depth about what it is, and it's effects on groundwater. Since I am studying for my finals now, time is of the essence... can anyone expl

Hydogeology Fetters (discharge, water-table elevation)

11. An unconfined aquifer has a hydraulic conductivity of 8.7 x 10-2 cm/s. There are two observation wells 597 ft apart. Both penetrate the aquifer to the bottom. In one observation well the water stands 28.9 ft above the bottom, and in the other it is 26.2 ft above the bottom. (A)What is the discharge per 100-ft-wide strip of