Groundwater Notes

Porous or Porosity Amount of empty space or voids in a solid material Measured as a percentage Examples:

Permeable or Permeability Ability to allow fluids to pass through Groundwater moves very slowly Measured as a distance / time –feet / second –feet / hour –feet / year –Examples

The Water Cycle

Hydrologic Cycle

GLOBAL WATER SOURCE AND VOLUME Water Source Water volume (in cubic miles) Percent of total water 1.Oceans 317,000, % 2.Icecaps, glaciers 7,000, % 3.Groundwater 2,000, % 4.Fresh-water lakes 30, % 5.Inland seas 25, % 6.Soil moisture 16, % 7.Atmosphere 3, % 8.Rivers % 9.Total 326,000, % SOURCE: USGS, 1984, The Hydrologic Cycle- Pamphlet

Period of Renewal (residence times) World Ocean 2500 years Ground water 1400 years Polar ice 9700 years Mountain glaciers 1600 years Ground ice years Lakes 17 years Bogs 5 years Soil moisture 1 years Channel network 16 days Atmospheric moisture 8 days Biological water several hours

Water Budget Income –PRECIPITATION Rain, snow, condensation…. Outgo: –EVAPOTRANSPIRATION Evaporation and Transpiration infiltration, runoff

Water Budget

Water Budget Surplus: –More income than outgo During rainy season, lots of rain and humidity During winter, not much evaporation or transpiration Deficit: –More outgo than income During dry season, lots of evaporation During summer, lots of plants

Watersheds of US

Which watersheds are we in?

Groundwater In which direction does groundwater move?

Rate of Groundwater Flow

Water Well

Groundwater pump Aquifer Zone of Aeration Water Table Zone of Saturation Cone of Depression

Water Quality Water is cleaned or filtered as it moves through the aquifer, therefore groundwater is generally clean. The deeper the well the farther from a pollution, therefore cleaner. Groundwater moves very slowly, therefore pollution can take many years to flush out.

Natural Water Problems Hard Water Salty Water No Water Stinky Water

In which direction does groundwater move? Like surface water, groundwater moves down hill, not downward.

How does water leave the ground? Evapotranspiration –Evaporation –Transpiration Springs Geysers Wells Artesian Wells

Artesian Well

What is our groundwater like here in Hopewell Valley? Fractured Shale The water table is not very deep.

Groundwater Pollution

Why is vegetation good? Splash Erosion –The drop impacts loosen the soil Sheet Erosion –Water running over the surface carries away the topsoil Less Infiltration –More runoff means less groundwater recharge

Gullying

Who uses the water?

Result of Excess Water Withdraw

Forced Recharge of the Aquifer Retention Basin –The runoff from the roads and parking lots is allowed to soak back into the aquifer.

Credits ay2000/Cycle.htm ect5.htmhttp://physics.uwstout.edu/geo/s ect5.htm 006/11/rivers-source-to-mouth.html