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Subsurface Distribution of Water

The document discusses the subsurface distribution of water, focusing on the vertical distribution of groundwater, including the zones of aeration and saturation. It outlines factors influencing seepage, hydrogeological properties of rocks, and the classification of rocks based on permeability and porosity. Additionally, it covers the yield of different rock types and the laws governing porosity.

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Chandu Chandru
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6 views27 pages

Subsurface Distribution of Water

The document discusses the subsurface distribution of water, focusing on the vertical distribution of groundwater, including the zones of aeration and saturation. It outlines factors influencing seepage, hydrogeological properties of rocks, and the classification of rocks based on permeability and porosity. Additionally, it covers the yield of different rock types and the laws governing porosity.

Uploaded by

Chandu Chandru
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit-II

SUBSURFACE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER


Vertical Distribution of Groundwater
Zone of Aeration

Depends: climate, topography and geology.


Classification:
a) Soil water zone

b) Intermediate zone

c) Capillary zone
Water Table:
An imaginary line which demarcates zone of aeration
and zone of saturation.

Zone of Saturation: (Groundwater)


Zone below water table where in phreatic water is
permanently saturated. All the voids are filled with
water.
FACTORS INFLUENCING SEEPAGE OF WATER
• Recharge and replenishment
Climate, vegetation, soil and bedrock
• Storage and movement
Soil, structure, stratification and slope
• Topography
• Withdrawal of GW
Human activity and Geologic condition
AGENCIES THAT PRODUCE OPENINGS IN ROCKS
• Sedimentation

• Weathering
Physical and chemical
• Decication

• Chemical Solution
Solution action under metasomatism
• Flocculation
Process of forming aggregates of compound masses
• Vital processes
Insects, animals and roots of trees
• Interstitial crystals
Interstities of crystalline rocks
• Mechanical deformation
Joints, fractures and faults
• Expansion of gases
AGENCIES THAT DESTROY OPENINGS IN ROCKS

• Compaction
Metamorphism (quartzite)
• Deflocculation

• Weathering

• Metamorphism

• Slumping of materials near river bank


HYDROGEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ROCK
(WATER-BEARING)
Refers to the shape, size, arrangement & extensiveness of
interconnected voids
1) Porosity 2)Permeability

3)Specific yield 4) Specific retention

5) Specific absorption 6) Transmissitivity

7) Storativity 8) Hydraulic conductivity

9) Specific capacity 10) Void ratio


POROSITY
Property of containing interstices in same or different rock.
Porosity = Specific yield + Specific Retention + Specific Absorption
Quantitatively expressed as, measure of ratio of
Porosity = Volume of Void / Total volume of rock
Unit = Percentage or Decimals

Types of porosity
1. Primary porosity - Formation of rock
2. Secondary porosity – weathering, deformation (joints), solution
action such as Ca & Mg carbonates of limestones & dolomites,
contraction and expansion of gases.
Laws governing porosity
• Percentage of pore space doesn’t increase with size
of material
• Larger the number of grain sizes in a formation
lesser are the pore spaces
• Fine material around grains control velocity of
percolation
• Maximum ease of movement is always parallel to
stratification
Porosity in different rocks
• Soil – 45%
• Uncemented alluvial- 50%
• Gravel- 25%
• Fractured formation:
Porosity/permeability due to fractures & rocks
formation are impervious. Eg. Granite/sandstone
• Semi-consolidated sands
• Double porous formation. Eg. Laterite
• Heterogenous formation. Interconnected openings
of fractures are filled by Silt/clay/fine sands. Eg.
limestone
Porosity & permeability depends on
• Width of fractures
• Frequency of fractures
• Distribution of fractures in a system that
determines the homogeneity
• Orientation of fracture system
• Properties of porous material in the fracture
PERMEABILITY
Ability of rock to transmit water through it.
Rate of transmit depends on unit pressure in unit cross-sectional
area in a unit time & 100% hydraulic gradient.
• Permeability varies
Degree of assortment
Percentage of fine material
Arrangement of grain size
• Isotropic – water transmitting in all direction
• Anisotropic- more freely only in one direction
• Anisotropism is mainly observed in hard rock region
due to orientation of fractures and joints.
Rock groups depending upon permeability

• Permeable: sands, gravel, fissured sandstone,


conglomerate, fissured limestone
• Poorly permeable: sandy loams, loess
• Impervious: clays, heavy loam, non-fissured
massive crystalline & cemented sedimentary
rocks
Specific yield
The property of a saturated rock to yield water.
It is the capacity of a saturated rock to drain water
under the force of gravity.
Quantitatively expressed as ratio of
Specific yield = 100 * (Volume of water yield / Volume of rock)
Specific retention
The property of a saturated rock to drain water.
It is the capacity of a saturated rock to retain
water after drain.
Quantitatively expressed as ratio of
Specific yield = 100 * (Volume of water drain/
Volume of rock)
Transmissitivity
Measure of rate at which groundwater flow horizontally in an
aquifer.
Rate of flow of water depends on prevailing temperature of
unit hydraulic gradient of an aquifer of unit width and
extending through the entire thickness of an aquifer.
Transmissivity, T = Kb
K is hydraulic conductivity & b is aquifer thickness
Storativity
Volume of water that a permeable unit releases from or take
into storage of an aquifer of unit cross-sectional area.
Hydraulic conductivity
Measure of ability of a formation to transmit water through
a porous medium.
Depends ob both properties of fluid and rock.
Compaction and cementation reduces hydraulic conductivity.
Specific capacity
Specific capacity is defined as the well pumping rate divided
by the total drop in water level from pre-pumping
conditions (drawdown)
Specific Capacity = pumping rate / drawdown

Void ratio
Used in soil mechanics & is given as ratio of grain size to voids.
Natural soils has larger numericals.
LAWS GOVERNING POROSITY

• Percentage of pore spaces shouldn’t increase with size of the


rock.

• Fine material around grain reduces velocity of percolation.

• Larger the no. of grain size in a formation lesser is the pore


spaces.

• Maximum ease of movement is always parallel to stratification.


GROUNDWATER IN FRACTURED FORMATIONS:
FACTORS INFLUENCING POROSITY AND PERMEABILITY
• Frequency of fractures- No. of fractures in a rock.
• Orientation and distribution of fractures for more storage of
water.
• Homogeneity and width of fracture in a rock to hold more
water.
• Properties of rock having fracture.
YIELD IN DIFFERENT ROCKS
Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
(weathering, fracturing and faulting)
• Small amounts of water in storage

• Low rates of sustainable production

• Well yields rapidly declining with depth, and changing abruptly


with position in any direction in 3-dimensional space

• Inapplicability of the Theis assumptions concerning aquifer


hydraulics in pumping tests
Sedimentary Rocks

Clastic sediments (Unconsolidated material) – water-laid


sediments (alluvial, lacustrine, coastal), aeolian sediments
(loess), and ice-related sediments

Consolidated Sedimentary Rocks – carbonate rocks and organic


rocks (lignite, coal)
CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS BASED ON DEGREE OF PERMEABILITY

• Permeable – sand, gravel, sandstone, limestone, conglomerate

• Poor permeable – sandy loam & loess

• Impermeable – heavy loam, non-fracture, crystalline &


cemented sedimentary rocks
CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS WITH RESPECT TO HYDROGEOLOGICAL
CHARACTERS

• Unconsolidated rock – alluvial deposits, sand, gravel, pebbles of


Recent age.

• Consolidated rocks - granites, schists of Archaen age, basalt of


Cretaceous age and sandstone of Cuddapah & Vindhyan System.

• Semi-consolidated rocks – sandstone of Cenozoic & Tertiary


age.

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