Introduction to Hydrogeology, Second Edition

FOREWORD VII

1 INTRODUCTION 1



1.1 General background 1
1.1.1 The scope of the science 1
1.1.2 The application of hydrogeology 2
1.1.3 Historical background of the science 5
1.1.4 History of groundwater use 8
1.2 Hydrological systems 10
1.2.1 Earth and water 10
1.2.2 Water at land surface 15
1.2.3 Surface water systems 21
1.2.4 The unsaturated zone 24
1.2.5 Groundwater systems 29

2 ROCKS AND GROUNDWATER 39



2.1 Basic concepts 39
2.1.1 Physical properties of water and rock 39
2.1.2 Groundwater system terminology 46
2.2 Formation of groundwater systems 52
2.2.1 Groundwater systems in metamorphic and intrusive rock 52
2.2.2 Development of aquifers in volcanic rock 56
2.2.3 Aquifer formation in consolidated sediments 59
2.2.4 Unconsolidated sediments and groundwater systems 66
2.3 Groundwater exploration methods 70
2.3.1 Methods at land surface 70
2.3.2 Subsurface investigation methods 76

3 GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT 79



3.1 Principles of groundwater flow 79
3.1.1 Groundwater flow in unconsolidated rock 79
3.1.2 Groundwater flow in consolidated rock 93
3.2 Flow in groundwater systems 97
3.2.1 Basic concepts 97
3.2.2 Regional groundwater flow 101
3.2.3 Local groundwater flow 122
3.2.4 Pumping test methodology 127
3.3 The flow systems concept 129
3.3.1 Formation of flow systems 129
3.3.2 Flow computations 132

4 WATER BALANCES 135



4.1 Groundwater balance concepts 135
4.1.1 The general idea 135
4.1.2 Practical application of groundwater balances 140
4.2 Groundwater balance estimation methods 142
4.2.1 Basic concepts and recharge 142
4.2.2 Discharge and storage 150
4.2.3 Groundwater balances using flow computations and modelling 153
4.3 Groundwater balances and their environment 155
4.3.1 Groundwater recharge and climate 155
4.3.2 Groundwater balances and geology 160

5 GROUNDWATER CHEMISTRY 169



5.1 Groundwater and chemical processes 169
5.1.1 Chemical properties of water and rock 169
5.1.2 Development of groundwater chemistry 180
5.1.3 Assessment of groundwater chemistry 187
5.2 Groundwater chemistry and rock types 192
5.2.1 Groundwater chemistry in consolidated rocks 192
5.2.2 Groundwater chemistry in unconsolidated rocks 195

6 DEVELOPMENT OF GROUNDWATER 199



6.1 Groundwater management 199
6.1.1 Water management 199
6.1.2 The role of groundwater 202
6.2 Groundwater planning and investigations 204
6.2.1 Water planning 204
6.2.2 Selection of investigation methods 206
6.2.3 Groundwater monitoring 200
6.3 Groundwater resources studies 211
6.3.1 Regional groundwater availability 211
6.3.2 Groundwater demand 220
6.3.3 Local groundwater development 223

EXERCISES 231

SELECTED ANSWERS TO EXERCICES 245

REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 247

REGISTER 255