MOVEMENT OF GROUNDWATER

What is Groundwater?
Groundwater is water that comes from the ground due to rain, snow, sleet, and hail that soaks into the ground.

How Does Groundwater Move?

Groundwater moves from areas of higher elevation to areas of lower elevation .
Due to precipitation, the water reaches the earths surface, some of it will flow along the surface of the earth as runoff while the rest of it soaks into the ground called RECHARGE. Water goes through the ground and stored in the Aquifer (where water cannot infiltrate deeper) below. Due to pressure underground the water then slowly moves through spaces and cracks between the soil particles on its journey to lower elevation. The movement of water underground is called Groundwater Flow. Eventually after years of movement, the groundwater comes to a DISCHARGE area where it enters a lake or stream.

Flow of Groundwater:
EVAPORATION CONDENSATION PRECIPITATION

RECHARGE where it soaks through the ground

AQUIFER where the water is stored in a certain depth below the ground GROUNDWATER FLOW movement of water underground ( ft/sec) DISCHARGE area where the ground water enters a lake or stream.

PROPERTIES OF GROUNDWATER FLOW: (unitless)

Porosity or Void Fraction is a measure of the void spaces in a material. 1) primary porosity the initial void space present when the rock is formed 2) Secondary porosity develops later. Due to fracturing Permeability the ability of rock/soil to allow the passage of fluids. Specific Yield is the ratio of the volume of water drained from a rock to the total rock volume (Sy = Vwd/Vr) Specific Retention is the ratio of water rock can retain to the total rock volume (Sr = Vwr/Vr)

The properties of Groundwater are all components of Hydraulic Conductivity(the ability of water to move through a material) and is denoted as K

Introducing Darcys Law: Q = KIA Where: Q = Flow rate or Discharge , (cubic meter/day) K = Hydraulic Conductivity (properties of Groundwater) I = Hydraulic Head , m A = Cross-sectional area of flow , (square meter)