Groundwater

Distribution
Prepared by: John Lloyd R. Caduyac BSMB IIA
Vertical Distribution of Groundwater

• The Vertical Distribution of groundwater mainly divided into two

zones:
-Zone of Aeration
-Zone of Saturation
Zone of Aeration
• The Zone of Aeration consists of interstices occupied partially by
water and partially by Air.
• The Zone of Aeration is subdivided
into three types:
-Soil water zone
-Intermediate zone (vacdose zone)
-Capillary zone
• Water in the soil-water zone exits at less than saturation except when
excessive water reaches the ground surface as from rainfall or
irrigation (thickness varies from soil type).

• Amount of water present in the soil water zone depends primarily on

the recent exposure of soil to moisture.

• Under hot arid condition a water vapor equilibrium tends to become

established between the ambient air and the surface of fine grained
soil particles. As a result only thin films of moisture known as
“hygroscopic water” remain absorbed on the surface.
Soil water zone was classified into three subzones defined on the
concentration of moisture they have:

• Hygroscopic water – Absorbed from the atmosphere and held very tightly by
the soil particles, so that it is unavailable to plants in amounts sufficient for
them to survive
• Capillary water - Water that remains in the oil after gravitational water is
drained out that is subject to the laws of capillary movements, and that is in the
form of a film around the soil grains
• Gravitational water- Free water moving through soil by the force of gravity. It is
largely found in the macropores of soil and very little gravitational water is
available to plants as it drains rapidly down the water table.
Intermediate Vadose zone
• Extends from the lower edge of the soil water
zone to the upper limit of capillary zone

• The thickness may vary from zero were the

bounding zones merge with a high water table
approaching ground surface to more than
100m under deep water table condition.

• Non moving vadose water is held in place by

hygroscopic and capillary forces temporary
excesses of water migrate downward as
gravitational water
Capillary zone
• Extends from the water table up to the limit of
capillary rise of water or capillary fringe is one
which lies immediately above the zone of
saturation the water available in the zone is
teemed capillary water
• Water Is drawn up from the zone of saturation
through capillary action and suspended by
capillary force.
• Thickness of this zone is dependent upon the
texture of the soil and formation, above the zone
of saturation if the size of pores is fine the
upward movement of water through the soil is
comparatively more causing greater thickness
Water table
• The uppermost surface of the zone of saturation is termed as the
water table. Water table forms the boundary between the zone of
aeration and zone of aeration and zone of saturation
Zone of Saturation
• In zone of saturation all interstices are filled with water under
hydrostatic pressure
• In the zone of saturation, groundwater fills all of the interstices; hence
the porocity provides a direct measure of the water contained per
unit volume
• A portion of the water can be removed from subsurface strata by
drainage or by pumping of wells. However molecular and surface
tension forces hold remainder of the water in place
Global distribution of Groundwater
• As these charts show, even though the amount of water locked up in
groundwater is a small percentage of all of Earth’s water it represents
a large percentage of total freshwater on Earth. The chart sows that
about 1.7 percent of all of Earths water is groundwater and 30
percent of fresh water is groundwater
Movement of Groundwater
• The water cycle moves water through the environment as water falls
to the ground as rain or snow – it can run off into streams, lakes,
rivers or bays. Water will evaporate from surface waters. Water that
evaporates, can later condense (condensation), forming clouds that
can cause rain or snow
• Groundwater and surface water are interconnected. When the water
table rises above the ground. The groundwater discharges to the
surface and becomes surface water. Also, when the water table drops.
Surface water can recharge the groundwater.
• An acquifer is an area of underground soil or rock that is filled with
water. An acquifer can supply water to a drinking water well. There
are two types of acquifers used to supply drinking water. This two
types of acquifers are sand and gravel acquifers and bedrock
acquifers.
• The water table is the top of the groundwater. It is the boundary
between the saturated zone below the water table and the
unsaturated zone above the water table. The water table rises and
falls according to the time of the year and how much rain or snow we
get
• Groundwater is recharged from precipitation – either rain or snow
melt – that seeps into the ground.
• A drinking well is a circular hole that extends into the ground until it
reaches the groundwater, Wells pump groundwater into our homes.
Three basic well types are common: Dug, driven and drilled wells.
SPRING AND GEYSERS
 Springs

• The top of an aquifer may be high

enough in some places to meet the
surface of the ground. This often
happens on a slope. The water flows
out of the ground and creates a
spring . A spring may be just a tiny
trickle or it may be a big gush of water.
• Water flowing out of the ground
at a spring may flow downhill and
enter a stream. If the water from
a spring can’t flow downhill,it
may spread out to form a pond
or lake instead. In the dessert,
the only reliable water may be
from springs . A spring may allow
wildlife to inhabit an unhabitable.
Artesian Springs
• Sometimes an aquifer is confined. A
confined aquifer is trapped between
two impermeable rock layers.
Pressure from the rock layer on top
forces the water out where the
aquifer reaches the ground surface.
Water that flows up to the surface
naturally is an artesian spring. If
people drill a well into a confined
aquifer, the water may flow to the
surface without assistance.
Mineral Springs and Hot springs
• Some springs have water that contains
minerals, Groundwater dissolves minerals
out of the rock as it seeps through the
pores. The water in some springs is hot
because it is heated by hot magma. Many
hot springs are also mineral springs.
That’s because hot water can dissolve
more mineral than cold water.
• Springs in Yellow stone national Park are
ho and contain dissolved minerals
Morning Glory Pools has a bright green
color from dissolved minerals along the
edge are thick orange mats of bacteria.
The bacteria use the minerals in the hot
water to make food.
Geysers
• Heated groundwater may become trapped in spaces within rocks. Pressure build up
as more water seeps into the spaces. When the pressure becomes great enough,
the water burst out of the ground at a crack or weak spot. This is called a Geyser.
When the water erupts from the ground, the pressure is released. Then more water
collects and the pressure builds up again. This leads to another eruption