ESC 462 - Hydrogeology

3 Credits

Outline Effective Date 2024 Fall
13 (2024-2025)

Lecture Hours: 42
Lab Hours: 22
Practicum Hours: 0
Tutorial Hours: 0

Course Description:
Hydrogeology is the study of the occurrence, characterization, and movement of water below the earth’s surface. In this course the basic physical and chemical hydrogeologic parameters are introduced and groundwater management techniques are discussed. Lab exercises and problem sets involve describing the subsurface environment, determining the physical and chemical properties of aquifers, and characterization and modeling of groundwater flow.

Rationale:
This is a required course for students in Bachelor of Applied Science: Environmental Management degree. As human impacts on water resources continue to multiply, the need for responsible water and watershed management becomes increasingly important. Groundwater on the prairies provides both subsurface freshwater supply and contributes and maintains flow to surface water bodies. The amount of flow and rate of movement of groundwater affects the rates at which water can be pumped from the subsurface without creating significant impacts on aquifers and groundwater users. Further, the interaction of geological materials with groundwater affects the movement and transformation of pollutants in the subsurface environment. This course is fundamental to the understanding of the interrelationships between water, the subsurface environment, and human requirements.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

explain the basic concepts of geology including rock types, formation, stratigraphy, structural features, and plate tectonics.
explain, differentiate, and analyze the various hydrogeologic parameters used to describe aquifer materials and the subsurface environment.
differentiate and evaluate the geologic controls on groundwater movement.
evaluate various types of aquifer pump tests and contrast the circumstances limiting their use to certain hydrogeologic environments.
assemble data for aquifer pump tests and evaluate and interpret the aquifer pump test data.
assemble data from various sources to determine safe yields from pumping wells.
differentiate the various types of geophysical methods and evaluate geophysical data to interpret subsurface conditions.
assemble and differentiate the various types of chemical constituents in groundwater and demonstrate the methods used in presentation and interpretation of chemical data.
analyze geochemical data and hypothesize as to what could create regional geochemical patterns.
evaluate and characterize subsurface flow and transport patterns using computer software.
explain government regulation, compliance and management issues surrounding groundwater on the prairies.

Required Resource Materials:
None

Optional Resource Materials:
Brassington, R. 2017. Field Hydrogeology. John Wiley and Sons.

Domenico, F., and F. Schwartz. 1998. Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology. John Wiley and Sons. 506 p.

Fetter, C.W. 2001. Applied Hydrogeology. 4th ed. Prentice Hall Inc. 598 p.

Fetter, C.W. 2018. Contaminant Hydrogeology. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall Inc.

Fitts, R. 2013. Groundwater Science. 2nd ed. Academic Press. 672 p.

Milsom, J. 2011. Field Geophysics. John Wiley and Sons. 244 p.

Weight, W. D. 2001. Manual of Applied Hydrogeology.

Conduct of Course:
This course consists of approximately 42 hours of lecture and 22 hours of lab.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports, therefore absenteeism is recorded.

Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours can be required to withdraw and would then automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).
An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor following an in-person meeting. Be sure to contact your instructor and ask what they will require from you as verification of each absence. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

NOTE: Any exceptions to the above attendance policy (e.g. timetable conflicts, work-related issues) must be approved in writing by the Department Chair prior to the beginning of the course.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, exams, or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:
Unit 1: Introduction to Hydrogeology

Water on Earth
Hydrology and Water Cycle
Hydrogeology
Water Balance
Applications of Hydrogeology
Responsibility of a Hydrogeologist
Stages of Hydrogeological Investigation

Unit 2: Geology of Hydrogeology

Geologic Time Scale
Structure of the Earth
Crust and Plate Tectonics
Rocks and Minerals
Geologic Units
Structural Geology
Stratigraphic Laws
Geology of Alberta

Unit 3: Groundwater Flow

Hydraulic Head
Hydraulic Head Measurement/Calculations
Hydraulic Gradient
Darcy Equation
Hydraulic Conductivity
Unit 4: Aquifers
Aquifer definition
Unconfined
Confined
Confining Layers
Karst Aquifer
Aquifers in Alberta

Unit 5: Groundwater Mapping

Water Level Contour Lines
Flowlines
Flow Net
Anomalies in Water Level Contour Lines
Vertical Distribution of Hydraulic Head

Unit 6: Regional Groundwater Flow

Introduction to Regional Groundwater Flow
Groundwater Basins
Groundwater Flow Systems

Unit 7: Response of Aquifers to Pumping

Well Study
Slug Test
Aquifer Test

Unit 8: Field Methods

Introduction
Installing Piezometers
Fracture Trace Analysis
Surficial Geophysical Techniques
Borehole Geophysical Techniques and Data Interpretation

Unit 9: Alberta Groundwater Regulations

Introduction
Groundwater Management
Inventory
Allocation and Licensing
Protection and Conservation

Laboratory Schedule

There are a total of 5 laboratories. Topics closely follow what is being taught in lecture.

Geotechnical Analysis of Aquifer Samples
Aquifer Permeability Analysis
Groundwater Mapping
Aquifer Tests
Analytical Modeling and Drawdown Calculations

Laboratory assignments will heavily incorporate using computer software to solve practical hydrogeological problems.

Course Assessments:

Midterm Exam	35%
Final Exam	35%
In Class Assignments/Quizzes	10%
Laboratory Assignments	20%
Total	100%

To obtain credit for this course, all lab exercises must be completed.

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course. Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.