School of Engineering and Technology, (SET)
 
CE74.52 : Groundwater Development and Management  3(3-0)
 
Course objectives:
The objective of this course is to provide the fundamentals of groundwater hydrology and its applications on groundwater development and management. The course provides the concepts of basin management, conjunctive use, recharge, groundwater contamination and groundwater modeling tools and techniques for the sustainable management of groundwater resources.
 
Learning Outcomes:
The students on completion of this course would be able to:
  • Apply methods for solving groundwater flow equations under a variety of situations;
  • Apply fundamental theories of movement of contaminants in aquifers;
  • Analyze the current global and region specific groundwater issues and identify management challenges;
 
Pre-requisite(s):

None
 
Course Outline:
I        Fundamentals of Groundwater Flow and Groundwater Wells
1.     Basics of groundwater: aquifer, hydraulic head, storage characteristics
2.     Darcy’s law: hydraulic conductivity, heterogeneity and anisotropy, aquifer flow and transmissivity
3.     Equations of groundwater flow
4.     Radial flow to wells, pumping tests
5.     Multiple well arrays, wells near hydrogeologic boundaries

II          Groundwater Resources Assessment
1.    Groundwater exploration: reconnaissance survey, surface and subsurface geophysical investigation, test drilling
2.    Hydrologic assessment: infiltration and groundwater recharge, water balance method, rainfallrunoff models, and regional groundwater flow model

III         Environmental Issues
            1.    Overcharging of aquifers
            2.    Overexploitation: groundwater mining, land subsidence due to pumping
            3.    Groundwater quality and contamination
            4.    Seawater intrusion

IV        Groundwater Management
            1.    Concepts of basin management: quantity and quality aspects
            2.    Alternative basin yield
            3.    Evaluation of perennial yield
            4.    Modeling tools and techniques for management
6.     Integrated use of surface water and groundwater
7.     Artificial recharge

V         Groundwater Pollution
1.     Pollution sources: point and non-point sources
2.     Movement and attenuation of pollutants in aquifers
3.     Transport processes: advection, dispersion, sorption and decay, mathematical treatment
4.    Solute transport equation, initial and boundary conditions
5.     Mathematical statement of pollution problems; solution approaches

VI        Management of Groundwater Pollution
1.     General principles
2.     Data requirement and database management
3.     Groundwater protection
4.     Groundwater vulnerability assessment to pollution
 
 
Learning Resources:

Textbook:

No designated textbook, but class notes and handouts will be provided

 
Reference Books:
1.     Pinder, G. F. and Celia, M. A. (2006): Subsurface Hydrology, Wiley, USA. 
2.     Todd, D. K. and Mays, L.W. (2005): Groundwater Hydrology, 3rd Edition, Wiley, USA.
3.     Deller, J.W. (2006): The Handbook of Groundwater Engineer, CRC Press, The Netherlands.
4.     Kasenow, M. (2001): Applied Groundwater Hydrology and Well Hydraulics, 3rd Edition, Water Resources Publications, LLC, USA and Canada.
5.     Shrestha, S., Pradhananga, D., Pandey, V.P., (2012): Kathmandu Valley Groundwater Outlook, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), The Small Earth Nepal (SEN), Center of Research for Environment Energy and Water (CREEW), International Research Center for River Basin Environment-University of Yamanashi (ICRE-UY), Nepal.
6.     Shrestha, S., Pandey, V.P., Shivakoti, B. R., Thatikonda, S. (2015). Groundwater Environment in Asian Cities: Concepts, Methods and Case Studies, Elsevier, The Netherlands.
 
Journals and Magazines:
1.     Groundwater, Wiley
2.     Hydrological Science Journal, Taylor and Francis
3.     Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Elsevier
4.     Journal of Hydrology, Elsevier
 
Time Distribution and Study Load:
Lectures                                                          40h
Tutorial                                                            10 h
Self-study      (including assignments)    135h
 
Teaching and Learning Methods:
In addition to class room lectures, students will be provided with reading materials such as journal papers, case studies and reports. Home assignments and group projects will be given to assess students’ knowledge on understanding of groundwater hydrology, environmental issues related to groundwater development and management. Separate tutorial classes will be organized to enhance students learning capacity.
 
Evaluation Scheme:
The final grade is computed according to the following weight distribution: Mid-semester Exam (20%); Final Exam (60%); Assignment/Semester Paper (20%). Open-book examination is given in both mid-semester and final exams.

An “A” grade will be awarded to those students who demonstrate an ‘excellent’ understanding of groundwater hydrology and able to solve groundwater flow and contaminant transport equations. A“B” grade will be awarded to those students who demonstrate a ‘good’ understanding of groundwater hydrology and able to solve groundwater flow and contaminant transport equations. A “C” grade will be given to those students who demonstrate an ‘average’ understanding of groundwater hydrology and able to solve groundwater flow and contaminant transport equations. A “D” grade will be given to those students who demonstrate a ‘below average’ understanding of groundwater hydrology and unable to solve groundwater flow and contaminant transport equations.
 
Instructor(s):
SECTION NAME
A Dr. Mohana Sundaram Shanmugam