Contents

• Introduction
• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3
• Section 4
• Section 5
• References
• Links

An Introduction to Ground Water Hydrology by W. Bradford Caswell, Ph.D. originally published in 1987 as Chapters 1 and 2 of the Ground Water Handbook for the State of Maine Maine Geological Survey Online Edition, 2009

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Section 1 - General geology of Maine's ground water sources

Section 2 - General ground water principles

• Global distribution and circulation of water
• The hydrologic equation and recharge
• Ground water in porous materials
• Ground water flow
  • Flow potential and hydraulic gradient
  • Recharge and discharge
  • Flow divides
  • Shallow and deep flow systems
  • Flow near streams and lakes
  • Flow rates and quantities

Section 3 - More practical aspects of ground water hydrology

• Ground water demands
• Aquifers
  • Gravel aquifers
  • Bedrock aquifers
  • Water table and artesian aquifers
• Springs
  • Water-table springs
  • Artesian springs
• Wells: water table and artesian
  • Water table wells
  • Artesian wells
• Wells: construction
  • Dug and drilled wells
  • Driven and jetted wells (point wells)
• Wells: pumping tests
• Wells: exploration
  • Sand and gravel aquifers
  • Fractured bedrock wells
• Ground water quantity and quality: natural factors
  • Seasonal variations
  • Aquifer composition and length of flow path
  • Air pressure and tides
  • Proximity to the ocean
  • Air temperature
• Ground water quantity and quality: human effects
  • Well interference and aquifer boundaries
  • Ground water contamination
• Ground water quantity and quality: site assessments
  • Site reconnaissance and aerial photograph interpretation
  • Geophysical investigations
  • Test borings and monitoring wells
  • Computer analysis

Section 4 - Maine's Water Situation

• Relative use of ground and surface waters for domestic supplies
• Infiltration of precipitation
• Total ground water in storage and annual recharge
• Ground water available in surficial and bedrock aquifers
• Necessary well depths
• Ground water quality

Section 5 - Locating potable water supplies

• Individual domestic wells
• Community wells
• Municipal, industrial, and commercial wells

References cited

Related Links

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Last updated on March 25, 2009

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