1. 11: Ground Water Hydrogeology: The study of
ground-water/earth-material
interactions
Geology controls ground-water recharge, flow, discharge and availability
Ground water acts as a geologic agent: Weathering, dissolution, volcanism, metamorphism, slope stability, earthquakes….

2. Ground Water The Unseen Part of the Water Cycle
Aquifer
Salt Groundwater

3. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Earth materials
Rock
Sediment (Soil)
Fluids (Water)
Geologic processes
Form,
Distribute and
Change Earth materials
Water is a primary agent of many (all?) geologic processes

4. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Interactions go both ways
Groundwater controls geologic processes
Geology controls flow and availability of groundwater

5. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials

6. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials
Where groundwater is available as a resource is controlled by geology

7. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials
Where groundwater is available as a resource is controlled by geology
Contaminant transport in the subsurface is controlled by geology

8. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Groundwater controls geologic processes
Volcanic Processes:
Igneous Rocks: Groundwater controls water content of magmas
Metamorphic Rocks: Groundwater injected by magmas can metamorphose country rocks
Volcanism: Geysers are an example of volcanic activity interacting with groundwater

9. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Groundwater controls geologic processes
Earthquakes: fluids control fracturing and fault movement, lubrication and pressures
Landslides: groundwater controls slope failure
Landforms: Valley development and karst topography

10. Ground Water Zones
Degree of saturation defines different soil water zones

11. Soil and Groundwater Zones
Unsaturated Zone:
Water in pendular saturation
Caplillary Fringe: Water is pulled above the water table by capilary suction
Water Table: where fluid pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure
Saturated Zone:
Where all pores are
completely filled with water.
Phreatic Zone: Saturated zone below the water table

12. Ground water and the Water cycle
Infiltration
Infiltration capacity
Overland flow
Ground water recharge
GW flow
GW discharge

13. Bedrock Hydrogeology
Hydraulic Conductivity of bedrock is controlled by
Size of fracture openings
Spacing of fractures
Interconnectedness of fractures

17. Potentiometric Surfaces

18. Potentiometric Surfaces

19. Ground Water as a Geologic Agent

20. Ground Water as a Geologic Agent

21. Ground Water as a Geologic Agent

27. Ground Water Contamination

28. Contaminant Transport

29. 1861: Frazier v. Brown English Rule in Ohio
Ohio Groundwater Law
1843: Acton v. Blundell “English Rule”
The landowner can pump groundwater at any rate even if an adjoining property owner were harmed.
1861: Frazier v. Brown English Rule in Ohio
Groundwater is
“…occult and concealed…”
and legislation of its use is
“…practically impossible.”

30. Wisconsin Groundwater Law
1903: Huber v. Merkel
English Rule in Wisconsin
A property owner can pump unlimited amounts of groundwater,
even with malicious harm to a neighbor.
1974: Wisconsin v. Michels Pipeline Constructors Inc.
English Rule Overturned
Landowners no longer have “an absolute right to use with impunity all water that can be pumped from the subsoil underneath.”

31. English Rule Overturned in Ohio
1984: Cline v. American Aggregates
 English Rule overturned in Ohio
Justice Holmes: “Scientific knowledge in the field of hydrology has advanced in the past decade…” so it
“…can establish the cause and effect relationship of the tapping of underground water to the existing water level.”
Today: Lingering effects of English Rule
It is very difficult to prove cause and effect to be defensible in court.