Groundwater monitoring collects data on quantity, quality, and hydrology of aquifers, helping manage a vital resource. Observation wells and networks detect changes and risks, and data is combined with other measurements for effective resource management.
Groundwater monitoring is the collection of data about groundwater resources. These data include the quantity and quality of the water, as well as the extent and hydrology of the geological structures that contain the water. The periodic depletion and replenishment of these structures, called aquifers, is recorded, taking into account human use. Such data helps manage a resource that many rely on for drinking water, agriculture and industry.
Changes in the quantity and quality of groundwater resources are typically slow processes, which are hidden from ready observation. Effective studies often cover a large area over a long period of time. Geological and hydrological observations provide a baseline against which changes can be recorded. Measurement of time variables are the procedures most often associated with groundwater monitoring.
Both the level and quality of groundwater in the aquifer are usually measured in small diameter observation wells called piezometers. These are used on a very limited section of an aquifer, especially to monitor water pressure. Groundwater monitoring wells in a single location can also be implemented at multiple depths, allowing for sampling and measurement over a range of elevations. Measuring water level and pressure helps analysts determine water flow patterns within the aquifer as part of the overall hydrologic cycle.
Extraction wells provide a one-time reference for the quantity and quality of a location’s groundwater when they are drilled. One can also estimate the potential amount of water that could be drawn from the well. When wells become operational sources of water, data interpretation becomes more difficult. Levels are affected by a recovery cycle and water quality reflects a mix of water from a range of depths. However, they provide general groundwater monitoring data.
Carefully placed observation wells can be used in conjunction with selected extraction wells to form a groundwater monitoring network. The design parameters of a network usually allow for the detection of changes in groundwater flow and quality, as well as the assessment of specific local risks. They also provide early warning in the event of overuse or contamination. Equally important is keeping records in an accessible and flexible database.
Data from a monitoring well network is often combined with river flow measurement, meteorological observation, and land use surveys to assist in water resource management. Where water is found, its movement, how much it is used, and for what purposes are all important components in groundwater monitoring. Effective resource management is sometimes as much an information issue as it is an infrastructure or policy issue.
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