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Groundwater Science, 2nd Edition

Article  in  Journal of Environmental Quality · September 2013

DOI: 10.2134/jeq2013.07.0275br · Source: PubMed

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 Journal of Environmental Quality
Groundwater Science, 2nd Edition
Charles R. Fitts. Academic Press, Elsevier, Waltham, MA. 2012. $109.95. 696 pp. Hardcover. ISBN 978-0-12-384705-8.
Gurpal S. Toor*
O ur precious ground- and surface-water resources
have been directly or indirectly impacted by anthropo-
genic activities over decadal time scales. The massive
explosion in human population, dwindling supplies of ground-
water, water contamination, and threats of climate change are
just a few of the reasons why we as human species should protect
and conserve groundwater—for ourselves and future genera-
tions. By doing so, we can leave a legacy as forebearers who built
resilient water systems.
The second edition of Groundwater Science is filled with
information about the basics of groundwater—the physics,
chemistry, hydrology, and geology. The book is divided into 12
chapters. Chapter 1 introduces readers to the groundwater basic
concepts such as fluxes, terminology, mass balance, and how
we use water. Chapter 2 discusses physical properties of water,
air, porous media, and hydraulic head. Several sections in these
chapters benefit from examples as they reinforce practice and
review of theoretical concepts. Some examples may be difficult
for beginning students to understand (e.g., 2.1, page 25), due to
different unit conversions.
Chapter 3 elaborates on principles of flow in saturated
and unsaturated media, with helpful exercises that will enable
students to grasp the theoretical concepts. This chapter would
have benefited from discussion of the latest devices that are now
available and routinely used in field studies such as electronic
water level indicators to measure groundwater depth and
in situ hydraulic conductivity measurement devices such as
infiltrometer.
Chapter 4 explores mapping of groundwater using physical
methods (drilling, wells) as well as geophysical methods
(electromagnetic, radar, resistivity). Chapter 5 outlines the
connectivity of geology with hydrology of groundwater, describes
Copyright © American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America,
and Soil Science Society of America. 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA.
All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publisher.
J. Environ. Qual. 42:1602–1603 (2013)
doi:10.2134/jeq2013.07.0275br
Received 11 July 2013.
*Corresponding author (gstoor@ufl.edu).
1602
BOOK REVIEWS
TECHNICAL REPORTS
the methods to measure stream discharge with good example
calculations, and discusses groundwater in unconsolidated
deposits (such as High Plains aquifer), in sedimentary rocks
(such as confined and artesian Dakota Sandstone aquifer), and
in igneous and metamorphic rocks (such as Columbia Plateau
Basalts in the northwest United States).
Chapter 6 introduces the reader to how changes in pore
water pressure (and head) cause physical deformation in the
landscape, resulting in impacts such as subsidence, liquefaction,
and faulting. The next three chapters focus on modeling
steady-state flow with simple one- or two-dimensional
models (Chapter 7); transient well hydraulics with slug tests
(quick and inexpensive) and pumping tests (laborious and
expensive) (Chapter 8); and computer-assisted flow, with an
excellent overview of the modeling process (Chapter 9). The
book includes excellent resources such as a computer model
(Analytic Aquifer Simulator) and example spreadsheets on the
book’s companion Website.
Chapter 10 shifts gears to groundwater chemistry, providing
an excellent summary on solutes (inorganic and organic),
chemical reactions, dissolution and precipitation of minerals,
and various aqueous-phase reactions controlling acidity and
basicity of groundwater along with metal complexation, and
oxidation and reduction. The chapter concludes with examples of
groundwater chemistry in Floridan and Milk aquifers. Chapter
11 transitions to groundwater contamination and describes
contaminant sources, organic contaminants, solute transport
processes, with a few selected case studies, and solute transport
models. The chapter concludes with sections on investigating
and remediating groundwater contamination.
The last chapter (Chapter 12) explores two interlinked
concepts of subsurface heat flow and geothermal energy, with a
Soil & Water Quality Lab., Univ. of Florida–Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences,
Gulf Coast Research & Education Center, Wimauma, FL 33598.
useful introduction to energy and heat flow processes, followed
by modeling steady-state and transient heat flow in one-
dimension, thermal springs and geysers, and geothermal energy.
Complete with excellent graphics and easy-to-understand
figures, each chapter concludes with practical problem-solving
exercises. A key to selected problems is included at the end
of the book. Many chapters also include animations on a
dedicated companion Website to visualize problems and help
improve readers’ understanding. The book exudes the author’s
extraordinary understanding of theoretical concepts as well
as his deep appreciation and knowledge of practical problems.
I appreciated the references (both classic and new) to journal
BOOK REVIEW 1603
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articles and book chapters when new concepts were introduced
for readers who might not be familiar with a particular subject
matter.
This book is recommended for anyone who wants to learn
and master groundwater concepts and apply the knowledge to
address problems related to groundwater quantity and quality.
Groundwater Science will be particularly useful to advanced
undergraduate and graduate students, environmental scientists,
and engineers working on groundwater issues and will serve
as a good teaching resource for basic and applied courses on
groundwater science.