{"id":508,"date":"2021-09-16T19:29:53","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T19:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/physicalgeology\/chapter\/chapter-14-groundwater-physical-geology-2nd-edition\/"},"modified":"2021-09-16T19:43:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T19:43:13","slug":"chapter-14-groundwater-physical-geology-2nd-edition","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/physicalgeology\/chapter\/chapter-14-groundwater-physical-geology-2nd-edition\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 14 Groundwater -- Physical Geology – 2nd Edition","rendered":"Chapter 14 Groundwater — Physical Geology – 2nd Edition"},"content":{"raw":"\n\n

<\/h3>

Chapter 14 Groundwater<\/h1><\/div>
\n <!-- pb_fixme -->\n
\n
\n

After reading this chapter, completing the exercises within it, and answering the questions at the end, you should be able to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Explain the concepts of porosity and permeability and the importance of these to groundwater storage and movement.<\/li>\n
  • Describe the relative porosities and permeabilities of some common geological materials.<\/li>\n
  • Define aquifers, aquitards, confining layers, and the differences between confined and unconfined aquifers.<\/li>\n
  • Explain the concepts of hydraulic head, the water table, potentiometric surface, and hydraulic gradient, and apply the Darcy equation to estimation of groundwater flow rates.<\/li>\n
  • Describe the flow of groundwater from recharge areas to discharge areas.<\/li>\n
  • Describe the nature of groundwater flow in karst systems.<\/li>\n
  • Explain how wells are used to extract groundwater and the implications of over-pumping a well.<\/li>\n
  • Describe how observation wells are used to monitor groundwater levels and the importance of protecting groundwater resources.<\/li>\n
  • Distinguish between natural and anthropogenic contamination of groundwater.<\/li>\n
  • Describe some of the ways that groundwater can become contaminated, and how contamination can be minimized.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \"\"\n
    Figure 14.0.1 A spring flowing from a limestone cave on Quadra Island, B.C.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

    As we saw in Chapter 13, fresh water makes up only 3% of the water on Earth. Approximately two-thirds of that is glacial ice and most of the rest is groundwater. We can\u2019t live without water, and it\u2019s easy to see that groundwater represents a critically important component of our water supply. Groundwater is not as easily accessed as surface water, but it is also not as easily contaminated as surface water. If more than 7 billion of us want to continue living comfortably here on Earth, we have to take great care of our groundwater and learn how to use it sustainably.<\/p>\n

    Media Attributions<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Figure 14.0.1: \u00a9 Steven Earle. CC BY.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <!-- pb_fixme -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","rendered":"
      \n
      \n

      <\/h3>\n

      Chapter 14 Groundwater<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
      \n <!– pb_fixme –><\/p>\n
      \n
      \n

      After reading this chapter, completing the exercises within it, and answering the questions at the end, you should be able to:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Explain the concepts of porosity and permeability and the importance of these to groundwater storage and movement.<\/li>\n
      • Describe the relative porosities and permeabilities of some common geological materials.<\/li>\n
      • Define aquifers, aquitards, confining layers, and the differences between confined and unconfined aquifers.<\/li>\n
      • Explain the concepts of hydraulic head, the water table, potentiometric surface, and hydraulic gradient, and apply the Darcy equation to estimation of groundwater flow rates.<\/li>\n
      • Describe the flow of groundwater from recharge areas to discharge areas.<\/li>\n
      • Describe the nature of groundwater flow in karst systems.<\/li>\n
      • Explain how wells are used to extract groundwater and the implications of over-pumping a well.<\/li>\n
      • Describe how observation wells are used to monitor groundwater levels and the importance of protecting groundwater resources.<\/li>\n
      • Distinguish between natural and anthropogenic contamination of groundwater.<\/li>\n
      • Describe some of the ways that groundwater can become contaminated, and how contamination can be minimized.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
        \n \"\"<\/p>\n
        Figure 14.0.1 A spring flowing from a limestone cave on Quadra Island, B.C.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

        As we saw in Chapter 13, fresh water makes up only 3% of the water on Earth. Approximately two-thirds of that is glacial ice and most of the rest is groundwater. We can\u2019t live without water, and it\u2019s easy to see that groundwater represents a critically important component of our water supply. Groundwater is not as easily accessed as surface water, but it is also not as easily contaminated as surface water. If more than 7 billion of us want to continue living comfortably here on Earth, we have to take great care of our groundwater and learn how to use it sustainably.<\/p>\n

        Media Attributions<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Figure 14.0.1: \u00a9 Steven Earle. CC BY.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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