Groundwater Flow Equation – a differential equation

that governs the movement of groundwater flow in the

porous media.
A. Continuity Principle (conservation of mass)
INFLOW - OUTFLOW = ∆STORAGE
B. Darcy’s Law
Specify how inflow and outflow are calculated

“control volume”

Qin ∆z Qout

∆y
∆x
 where q1 and q2 are
INFLOW : Qin = q1 (∆y∆z )∆t specific discharges at left and
right faces, respectively, and
OUTFLOW : Qout = q2 (∆y∆z )∆t Ss is specific storage

∆STORAGE = S (∆x∆y )∆h = S s ∆z (∆x∆y )∆h

INFLOW - OUTFLOW = ∆STORAGE

q1∆y∆z∆t − q2 ∆y∆z∆t = S s ∆z (∆x∆y )∆h

q1 − q2 ∆h
= Ss
∆x ∆t
∆q ∆h
− =S [∆q = q2 − q1 ]
∆x ∆t
 ∆q dq
Becasue : lim =
∆ x → 0 ∆x dx
The size of control volume
dq dh approaches infinitesimal
we obtain : − = Ss
dx dt

dh
Applying Darcy' s Law : q = − K
dx

d  dh  dh
we have : −  − K  = S s
dx  dx  dt

d  dh  dh
or  K  = Ss
dx  dx  dt

d 2h dh
If K is uniform : K 2 = S s
dx dt
In a multidimensional system,
replace ordinary derivatives with partial dervatives,
leading to
∂ 2h ∂ 2h ∂ 2h ∂h
K 2 + K 2 + K 2 = Ss
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t

More generally, assuming hydraulic conductivity K

is heterogeneous and anisotrpic, and with sinks/sources :
∂  ∂h  ∂  ∂h  ∂  ∂h  ∂h
 K x  +  K y  +  K z  + qs = S s
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z  ∂t
The groundwater flow equation is also referred to as the
governing equation for the mathematical model of a groundwater
flow problem. Other components of the mathematical model are
initial and boundary conditions.

Initial conditions
For any transient problem, the initial head distribution
must be known in order to solve for head changes with time,

t=0

t=t H0
Boundary Conditions
Heads, fluxes or some combination of the two
must be known at boundaries in order to solve
for head changes with space in the interior of
the flow field.

(Wang and Anderson, 1982)

Solutions to a mathematical model of groundwater flow
can be obtained analytically or numerically.

Analytical Solution:
Head h is expressed explicitly as mathematical formula
(function) of x, y, z, t.

For example, steady-state flow in a 1-D confined aquifer:

h2 − h1
h ( x ) = h1 + x
L
check
h1
h2 dh h2 − h1
=
Q dx L
⇒ constant slope!
L
Numerical Solution:
Head h is solved approximately at predefined “nodal
points” as illustrated below. Numerical solution is
typically obtained through a computer code.

(Wang and Anderson, 1982)

Steady-state flow in unconfined aquifer with a sink/source term
[recharge/discharge]
w
w: recharge rate
[LT-1]
water table
h1 hmax
d h2

L
1-D, homogeneous
Analytical solution:

 h12 − h22  w
h ( x ) = h − 
2
1  x + (L − x )x
 L  K

K (h12 − h22 ) L 
q =
'
x − w − x 
2L 2 

L K h12 − h22
d= −
2 w 2L

 h 2
− h2 
2
w
hmax = h1 − 
2 1
d + (L − d )d
 L  K
Example : Plan View
w= 1.8ft/yr river
- 1.3 ft/yr
A A′

canal
1500′

Cross section

A A′
h1 27′ h2 31′

1. Is there a divide between Canal and River? If so, where?

2. Maximum water table elevation
3. Daily discharges per 1000 ft into Canal and River
1. Assume there is a divide. w
L K  h12 − h22 
d = −  
2 w  2 L 
h1 d hmax h2
h1 = 27′; h2 = 31′; L = 1500′; K = 1.2 ft/d;
w = 0.5 ft/yr=0.0014 ft/d
1500′
x
1500′ 1.2′ / d  27 2 − 312 ft 2 
d= −  •  = 820′
2 0.0014′ / d  2 × 1500 ft 
[820′ from Canal ] or [680′ from River ]

Below what recharge rate w would there be NO divide?

set d = 1500′
solve for w = ?
w = 0.12 × 10−4 ft/day
2. Max water table elevation  h12 − h22  w
hmax = h − 
2
1 d + (L − d )d
 L  K

 27 2
− 312

= 27 − 
2
820 + 0.0014 (1500 − 820 )820

 1500  1 .2

= 729 + 127 + 650

hmax = 39 ′

3. to canal per 1000’ width to river per 100 0′ width

Q x = L = q′ x =L ⋅ width( = 1000)
Q ′
x = 0 = q x = 0 width
= 960 ft 3 / day
K 
=  (h12 − h22 ) − w − x 1000
L
 2L 2 

=
 1 .2
(27 2 − 312 ) − 0.0014
1500 
1000
 2 × 1500 2 
= −1050(ft 3/day )