Pumping Test for Determination of Aquifer Characteristics and

yield calculations at the Proposed Water Supply Scheme of

Palakonda Nagar Pnachyat, Srikakulam District

TECHNICAL REPORT
2020

Dr .V.Venkateswara Rao
Professor (Retd.), Geo-Engineering, A.U
QCI-NABET Accredited FAE in Geology& Hydrogeology
Visakhapatnam- 530 017
____________________________________________________________________
Commissioner, Palakonda Nagar Panchayat, Srikakulam Dt.

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 DEPT. OF GEO-ENGINEERING
A.U. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ANDHRA UNIVERSITY
VISAKHAPATNAM - 530 003

Dr .V.Venkateswara Rao Phone: 0891-2531754

Professor (Retd.), Geo-Engineering, A.U Mob: 9393106937
QCI-NABET Accredited FAE in Geology& Hydrogeology
Plot-119, Sector-4, M.V.P Colony
Visakhapatnam- 530 017
Date: 12-06-2020

Pumping Test for Determination of Aquifer Characteristics and yield

calculations at the Proposed Water Supply Scheme of Palakonda Nagar
Pnachyat, Srikakulam District
Name of the Client : Municipal Commissioner
Palakonda Nagar Panchayat
Srikakulam Dt.

Location of Site : Nagavali Riverbed

About 150m downstream of Sankili bridge
Lat:18034’08”; Long: 83044’21”

Reference : Lr.No: 003/AIIB/PNP/2020-21/AE, Dt. 26-05-2020

Dates of Testing : 01-06-2020 to 04-06-2020

A. Introduction: Determination of aquifer yields and hydraulic characteristics – Hydraulic

conductivity (K), Transmissivity (T), Storage coefficient for designing the water supply system
to the required quantity. Proposed quantity of groundwater exploration for Palakonda nagar
panchayat (PNP) is 8.0 million litres per day. Earlier integrated investigations were carried in the
proposed site and identified potential aquifer zone in the Nagavali river bed. This site is about
4km south of the Palakonda town and the nearest village is Sankili very adjacent to the River
course on the right bank. Earlier investigation shows the aquifer zone consists of 10m to 14m
thick sand continuously for the entire width of the river which is variable between 250m and
300m. There is continuation of sand aquifer about 15km upstream and 15.0km downstream from
the tested place. High potential zone of about 300m length gallery site has been identified
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through integrated methodology explained in the hydrogeological report. Infiltration well
supplying water to Palakonda town village located about 100m upstream. Pumping test is
proposed within the proposed gallery site. The proposed gallery site in the river course is shown
in the satellite image below. Aquifer present at the well site consists of sand formation of more
than 10m thickness.

Pumping test has been proposed at the proposed gallery site and the location is shown in the
satellite image and the pumping& observation wells also. Pumping test is conducted before onset
of the monsoon in the first week of June, 2020
to determine the yields of the aquifer during
summer. Location of the pump test site is shown
in the adjacent satellite image and the pumping
well coordinate is N18034’18.05”; E83044’
14.59”. It is about 140m downstream of the
Sankili bridge and 70m from the left bank.
Aquifer parameters- Transmissivity, storage coefficient and aquifer yields can be determined
through pumping test which involves abstraction of water at a controlled rate and observing with
respect to time, the water level changes in the pumped well and two observation wells. Pumping
test field procedure and water level observations are described below:

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B. Description of Pumping Test: Site for pumping test has been conducted in the river bed that
consists of sand. Aquifer of the river bed is unconfined and the material consists of coarse and
medium sand. As per the earlier investigations sand bed thickness variable between 10m to 14m.
Drilling was carried with Rotary method,
slotted casing of 200mm diameter is
inserted in to the pumping well and
125mm diameter into the two observation
wells which are at a distance of 5m(r1)
and 10m(r2) from the pumping well.
Pumping well is drilled to 10m and
observation wells to 6m depth. Schematic
diagram of the pumping and observation
wells shown Fig.1.
A centrifugal pump is used for pumping
groundwater from the pumping well. Water levels in the pumping and observation wells are
measured with electronic water level indicator. Field photos of pumping test are shown below.
The above photo mosaic shows the panoramic view of Nagavali river from left bank(A) in which

water covered area is about 100m and sand bed exposed for about 150m. View of the site is
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shown in B. Pumping well drilled with rotorary rig and cased with 200m diameter and 3mm
width slotted casing for the entire 10m depth of drilling. Two observation wells drilled to 6m
depth and cased with125mm diameter at a distance of 5m and 10m from the pumping well as
shown in C. Pumping well is fitted with 5.0 HP centrifugal pump and the delivery hose pipe is
run for 50m distance away from the pumping well downstream to reduce the pumped water
influence on the water levels around the pumping well. Water levels in the pumping well and
observation wells are taken with regular interval and the readings are shown the table- 1.
Table- 1: Pumping test data in Nagavali river for Palakonda Nagar Panchayat.
S.No. Time Pumping well Observation well-1 Observation well-2
interval (5m from PW) (10m from PW)
minutes D.W.T Residual D.W.T Residual D.W.T Residual
from GL DD (sw) from GL DD(s1) from GL DD(s2)
1 0 2.00 0.0 2.000 0.000 2.000 0.00
2 5 2.60 0.60 2.100 0.100 2.000 0.00
3 10 2.85 0.85 2.130 0.130 2.050 0.05
4 15 2.95 1.00 2.150 0.150 2.100 0.10
5 20 3.05 1.05 2.160 0.160 2.130 0.13
6 30 3.15 1.15 2.165 0.165 2.150 0.15
7 40 3.20 1.20 2.165 0.165 2.150 0.15
8 50 3.28 1.28 2.160 0.160 2.150 0.15
9 60 3.32 1.32 2.160 0.160 2.150 0.15
10 90 3.35 1.35 2.160 0.160 2.140 0.14
11 120 3.38 1.38 2.155 0.155 2.140 0.14
12 150 3.40 1.40 2.155 0.155 2.140 0.13
13 180 3.40 1.40 2.150 0.150 2.120 0.12
14 240 3.40 1.40 2.150 0.150 2.120 0.11
15 300 3.40 1.40 2.150 0.150 2.120 0.11
16 360 3.40 1.40 2.150 0.150 2.120 0.11
Static water table in all the bore wells of the pumping test is at 2.00m from the ground level.
Uniform rate of the pumping well is 36,000 lph or 10 Lps and attained steady state after 120
minutes. Residual draw-down is the water level at pumping time less static water table. Steady
state is arrived in the pumping well after 150minutes of pumping and residual drawdown is
1.40m. Pumping is continued for 360 minutes and the water level is in the steady state. In the
observation well OB-1, maximum drawdown 0.165m is reached after40 minutes of pumping and
water level gradually raised to 0.150m at the end of pumping test. Similarly at OB- 2 also
maximum drawdown is 0.150m after 60 minutes, water table gradually raised to 0.11m. Raising
water table in observation wells while pumping at steady state indicates that area of cone of
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depression is reduced which indicates that base flow of the river is with good velocity and the
water stored in the aquifer is not mere stored water. In order to know the quantification of aquifer
parameters and yields, the data has been analysed with relevant hydraulic equations describe
below:
C. Pumping Test Data Analysis:
The data has been analysed using Dupuit and Thiem equations. These are developed with certain
assumptions and type of aquifers. The present pumping test is conducted for i) Unconfined
aquifer, ii) uniform rate of pumping and steady radial flow into the well. Dupuit’s equations
assumptions are:
a) Stabilized drawdown- constant rate of pumping and steady state reached.
b) Aquifer is homogeneous, isotropic, infinite areal extent and constant thickness.
c) Complete penetration of the pumping well for the entire thickness of aquifer and 100% well
efficiency.
d) Flow lines are radial and flow is laminar.
e) The well is infinitely small with negligible storage.
The pumping test conducted at Palakonda site fulfill the almost all the assumptions mentioned
above. The equations are:
i) In case of two observation wells kept at r1 and r2 from the pumping well
Q = πK(h22 – h12)/2.303 log10 (r2/r1) ( 1.1)
ii) Q = 2πKH(H - hw)/2.303 log10 (R/rw) or Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw)
where T=KH; considering radius of influence ‘R’ (1.2)
Where
Q- Rate of flow
K- Permeability
T- Transmissivity
H- Thickness of aquifer
R- Radius of influence
r1- Distance of observation well 1 (OB-1)from PW
r2- Distance of observation well 2 (OB-2)from PW
h1- Thickness of water column at OB- 1
h2- Thickness of water column at OB- 2
hw- Thickness of water column at PW
sw, s1, s2 are residual drawdowns at pumping, OB-1 and OB2 respectively

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Pumping test field data has been plotted on a graph- distance of observation wells vs residual
drawdown is shown in fig. 2.

Physical measurements at the pumping test site and drawdown parameters from the graph are
listed in the above graph (fig. 2). To
obtain the radius of influence – R,
drawdown curve is drawn on
enhanced scale is shown in fig. 3. The
curve touches the zero drawdown at
46m distance from the Pumping well.
Hence R can be taken as 50m. For the
purpose of calculation of
permeability, storage coefficient and

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yield of the aquifer, all the required parameters are obtained from the field measurements as well
analysis of pumping test data.
D. Determinition of Aquifer Parameters.
A 20cm diameter well penetrates 8m below static water level (GWT). After a long period of
pumping at the rate of 600 lpm, the drawdown in the observation wells at 5m and 10m from the
pumped well are 0.165m and 0.15m, respectively. Radius of influence R is taken as 50m as per
the drawdown curve (fig. 3).
i) Permeability –K as per the Dupuit’s equation (1.1) Q = πK(h22 – h12)/2.303 log10 (r2/r1)
h2 = H-s2 = 8 – 0.165 = 7.835 m; h1 = H – s1 = 8 – 0.15 = 7.85 m
(0.600/60) = πK(7.852 – 7.8352)/2.303 log10 (10/5)
K = 9.37X10-3 m/s or 810m/day
ii) Transmissivity T = KH = 9.37X10-3 m/s X 8 m = 7.50 x 10-2 m2/sec or 6476 m2/day
Yield of the aquifer is arrived considering the coefficient of permeability- K as 810 m/day and
thickness (b) of aquifer as 8m.
Well yields: A well of 200mm diameter depth and 10m depth with saturated thickness of 8m
unconfined aquifer Applying in the Dupuit’s equation
Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw) where T=Kb , R= 50m
Q = 2.72x((810/24)x8)/3.7 = 199 m3/h per on meter drawdown
Hence, well yield is 199 m3/h per one meter drawdown
If we allow 3m drawdown the yield of the well is 597 m3/h/ which is nearly 6,00,000 litres per
hour.
iii) Specific Capacity of a well: A well of 200mm diameter and 10m depth with saturated
thickness of 8m unconfined aquifer for which the specific capacity is given below.
Specific capacity can be calculated using the equation
Sc = Q/dd; Q is discharge – 0.01m3/sec, and dd is 1.40m
Sc = 0,01m3/sec/1.4m = 0.071 m3/sec/ one meter drawdown
Sc = 429 m3/hour/ m dd or 4,29,000 lph/ m dd
E. Conclusions:
 Pumping test was conducted in summer and the aquifer yields can be considered as lean
base flows of the river and the quantity is can be considered as lean period yields.

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  Pumping test is conducted in Nagavali river bed that consists of coarse sand thickness
variable between 10m to 14m. Aquifer is unconfined and water saturated thickness is 8m.
Water levels are measured with electronic indicator in one pumping well and two
observation wells.
 Steady state is reached within 120 minutes of pumping commenced. Aquifer is
considered as unconfined with steady state of pumping to determine the aquifer
parameters. Dupuit’s equations are used to arrive K, T and Sc.
 Hydraulic conductivity/ permeability of the aquifer is K = 9.37X10-3 m/s or 810m/day,
transmissivity is T = KH = 9.37X10-3 m/s X 8 m = 7.50 x 10-2 m2/sec or 6476 m2/day,
and Specifi capacity of the well is Sc=199 m3/h per on meter drawdown.
 High permeability clearly indicates the groundwater flow through coarse sand. Since it is
depositional sand porosity also will be high may be in the range of 30% to 35%.
 Well yields recorded is 200 m3/hour for one meter drawdown and specific capacity is
429m3/ h for one meter drawdown represents high yields of the aquifer. On the average
the aquifer extends 15km upstream as well in the downstream with average width aquifer
is about 350m within this reach.
 Establishing Bore wells in the river course is difficult considering the approach to the
establishments and flood flows in the river course. Hence, infiltration galleries with
infiltration wells in between connecting the gallery length is proposed for tapping river
base flow at this site through earlier integrated surveys conducted.
 Infiltration galleries with 280m length with 600mm diameter RCC pipe with standard
slots and filter media around it is proposed to get the required quantity 8.0 mld
groundwater to Palakonda Nagar Panchayat. There are about 25 galleries laid in north
coastal Andhra are yielding at least 15% to 20% more than the designed yields.

Dr .V.Venkateswara Rao
Professor (Retd.), Geo-Engineering, A.U
QCI-NABET Accredited FAE in Geology& Hydrogeology
Visakhapatnam- 530 017