Unconfined Aquifer with Uniform Recharge
A well penetrating an unconfined aquifer that is being recharged uniformly @ 𝑊𝑊
𝑊𝑊 from-
Rainfall, excess irrigation
water or other surface
water resources
Flow Q increases as we
approach the well and at
the well it reaches
maximum of 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤
Increase in flow 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
through a cylinder of
thickness 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 and
radius 𝑟𝑟 comes from the
recharged water entering
the cylinder from above
So 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = −2𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Unconfined Aquifer with Uniform Recharge
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = −2𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Integrating, 𝑄𝑄 = −𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝑊𝑊 + 𝐶𝐶
But at the well 𝑟𝑟 = 0 and 𝑄𝑄 = 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤
So, 𝑄𝑄 = −𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝑊𝑊 + 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤
We know Darcy’s Law through a Cylinder
𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑄𝑄 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = −2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Substituting the 𝑄𝑄 we can get
𝑑𝑑𝑑
−2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 = −𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝑊𝑊 + 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Now, Integrating and noting that ℎ = ℎ0 at 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑟𝑟0
The equation for drawdown curve will be:
𝑊𝑊 2 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤 𝑟𝑟0
ℎ𝑜𝑜 2 − ℎ2 = 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑟𝑟02 + 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
2𝐾𝐾 𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 𝑟𝑟
Unconfined Aquifer with Uniform Recharge
Steady state radial flow to pumping wells in
unconfined aquifer is:
2 2
ℎ − ℎ𝑤𝑤
0 2 2 𝑄𝑄 𝑟𝑟0
𝑄𝑄 = 𝑟𝑟0 or ℎ 0 − ℎ 𝑤𝑤 = ln( )
ln( ) 𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 𝑟𝑟
𝑤𝑤
𝑟𝑟𝑤𝑤
Now by comparing it with our present drawdown curve:
𝑊𝑊 2 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤 𝑟𝑟0
ℎ𝑜𝑜 2 − ℎ2 = 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑟𝑟02 + ln( )
Effect of vertical recharge
2𝐾𝐾 𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 𝑟𝑟
𝑄𝑄 = −𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 𝑊𝑊 + 𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤 in this equation when 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑟𝑟0 , 𝑄𝑄 = 0, so,
𝑄𝑄𝑤𝑤 = 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟02 𝑊𝑊
Total flow of the well = recharge within the circle defined by the radius of influence
Or
Radius of influence is a function of the well pumpage and recharge rate only
*** this is possible only in a steady-state drawdown
Multiple Well Systems
Two cone of depressions overlap
One well – interfering another
Cause increased drawdown and pumping lift
For a group of wells forming a well field,
drawdown can be determined at any point if
the well discharges are known
Or vice versa
From principle of superposition, drawdown at any point in the area of influence caused
by the discharge of several wells =
the sum of drawdowns caused by each well individually
𝑆𝑆𝑇𝑇 = 𝑆𝑆1 + 𝑆𝑆2 + 𝑆𝑆3 +…..+𝑆𝑆𝑛𝑛
Where, 𝑆𝑆𝑇𝑇 = total drawdown at a given point and 𝑆𝑆1 , 𝑆𝑆2 , 𝑆𝑆3, …..,𝑆𝑆𝑛𝑛 are the drawdowns at
the points caused by the discharge of wells 1,2,3, … . , 𝑛𝑛, respectively
Individual and composite drawdown curves are given for 𝑄𝑄1 = 𝑄𝑄2 = 𝑄𝑄3
Clearly number of wells and the geometry of well field are important in determining
drawdowns
In general, wells in a well field designated for water supply should be spaced as far
apart as possible so their areas of influence will produce a minimum of interference
with each other
Bounded Aquifers
A boundary may be either a recharging boundary (e.g. a river or a canal)
or a barrier boundary (e.g. an impermeable valley wall)
When an aquifer boundary is located within the area influenced by a
pumping test, the general assumption that the aquifer is of infinite areal
extent is no longer valid
To analyze the flow in bounded aquifers, we apply the principle of
superposition
According to this principle, the drawdown caused by two or more wells is
the sum of the drawdown caused by each separate well
For boundaries, the wells that create the same effect as a boundary are
called image wells.
This relatively simple application of superposition for analysis of aquifer
boundaries was for described by Ferris (1959)
Image Wells
Recharge boundaries at Barrier boundaries at distance
distance (r) are simulated by (r) are simulated by a
a recharge image well at an pumping image well at an
equal distance (r) across the equal distance (r) across the
boundary. boundary.
r r r r
Well Loss
Relation of well loss CQn to draw-down for a well penetrating a confined aquifer
Variation of total drawdown w s , aquifer loss BQ, and well loss CQ with well
n
discharge
Step-drawdown pumping test analyses to evaluate well loss
Time-drawdown data from step-drawdown pumping test
Step-drawdown pumping test analyses to evaluate well loss
Determination of B and C from graph sQ w versus Q
Another parameter can computed from step-drawdown test
Where, L p is the ratio of laminar head losses to the total head losses (this
parameter can be considered also as well efficiency)
Base Flow to a Stream
Stream flow originating from groundwater discharge – groundwater runoff or base flow
During periods of precipitation – stream flow – derived primarily from surface runoff
During periods of extended dry season – stream flow – derived primarily from base flow
But before that… Effluent Streams and Influent Streams
Streams that gain Streams that are
water from the flow of above the water
ground water - table and contribute
Effluent Streams water to the water
table –
Influent Streams
Base Flow to a Stream
Perennial River Non-Perennial River
Perennial River Non-Perennial River
Those rivers which exhibit a Those rivers which have no flow for at
continuous flow of water throughout least a part of the year
the year except during extreme
drought
Also called- Permanent river Also called- Periodic river
Regions with humid climate where Areas with arid climates where
evaporation rates are much lesser evaporation tends to be greater than
than the rainfall precipitation
Base flow – important contributor to Influent Rivers as well as to Non-perennial
Rivers if they cuts the water table
Base Flow to a Stream
Estimate base flow to a stream
Can be computed by applying unidirectional steady state flow in unconfined aquifer
Two long and parallel
streams penetrating a
unconfined aquifer
Aquifer is being
continuous recharge
rate (W) occurring
uniformly over the
aquifer
𝑑𝑑𝑑
With the Dupuit assumptions, the floe per unit thickness: 𝑞𝑞 = −𝐾𝐾𝐾
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑