Ground water Resources

PGE-325
Lec.-4

Dr. M. Farhad Howladar,

Dept. of Petroleum & Mining Engineering,
SUST, Sylhet
Hydrologic Cycle
The distribution of
groundwater is
present in several
distinct layers or
zones:
a. Soil moisture
zone -- usually top
soil; much infiltration;
much organic material
b. Zone of aeration
(Vadose Zone) --
mostly air but some
interstitial water
c. Capillary fringe
-- transition between
unsaturated and
saturated zone; top of
aquifer
d. Zone of
saturation (Phreatic
Zone) -- pores
completely saturated
with water; main
aquifer storage zone
Perched Aquifer
A type of unconfined aquifer that sits above another unconfined aquifer
because water infiltrating from the surface is trapped or
'perched' on a shallow aquitard.
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under
positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point
where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached.
A well drilled into such an aquifer is called an artesian well, if water
reaches the ground surface under the natural pressure of the aquifer, the
well is called a flowing artesian wel
Ground water Resources
PGE-325
Lec.-5

Dr. M. Farhad Howladar,

Dept. of Petroleum & Mining Engineering,
SUST, Sylhet
An aquiclude is a unit of rock or layer of rock, which is impermeable to fluids. It
acts as a barrier to fluid flow. There probably are no true aquicludes.

There are two (2) scenarios that may occur with aquifers:
1. Confined Aquifer -- when an aquifer is bounded by two (2) aquitards (one above
and one below)
2. Unconfined Aquifer -- when an aquifer is not bounded on the surface side by an
aquitard so that fluids may flow freely above the aquifer.

The distribution of groundwater is present in several distinct layers or zones:

a. Soil moisture zone -- usually top soil; much infiltration; much organic material
b. Zone of aeration (Vadose Zone) -- mostly air but some interstitial water
c. Capillary fringe -- transition between unsaturated and saturated zone; top of
aquifer
d. Zone of saturation (Phreatic Zone) -- pores completely saturated with water;
main aquifer storage zone

Where does water in the ground originate?

Hydrologic Cycle explains the origin of groundwater.
Depicts the occurrence and movement of water in the earth-atmosphere system.

Water enters the GW system at recharge areas.

Water leaves GW system at discharge areas.