EASC –3400
GROUNDWATER GEOLOGY
Instructor:
Dr. K. Panneerselvam (“PANNEER”), Office: WCM 106 B
Phone: 543-4936; e-mail: panneerselvam@cmsu1.cmsu.edu
Office hours: TR: 11:00 – 1:00
Text
Groundwater Science, 2002, Fitts, Academic Press
Material from additional sources will also be used
General:
This course is an introduction to the science of groundwater. Basic knowledge
of geology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry is assumed. The emphasis will
be on the occurrence, movement, and quality of groundwater. Environmental/
geotechnical aspects of the groundwater will also be discussed.
Tentative Course Outline
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Ch. 1. Introduction, hydrologic cycle, hydrologic balance (budget)
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Ch. 2. Physical properties: Porosity, hydraulic head
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Ch. 3. Principles of GW flow: Darcy’s Law, hydraulic conductivity, permeability,
Measurement of hydraulic conductivity, flow of GW with variable density
Determination of GW flow direction by graphical method
Exam 1

Ch. 4. GW exploration: surface geophysical and borehole logging methods
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Ch. 5. Deformation and storage: effective stress, consolidation, elastic storage
and water table storage
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Ch. 7. Aquifer test analysis: Theis method, approximation of Theis solution
Exam 2

Ch. 9. GW chemistry: Concentration units, Piper diagram, alkalinity, isotopes
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Ch. 10. GW contamination: sources, types, solute transport processes, case
studies, remedial measures
Exam 3 – Final
Grading:
3 exams
Quiz, attendance, assignments
Paper and presentation
70 %
20 %
10 %
Paper/ presentation:
A detailed (~ 15 pages) report on a specific environmental/geotechnical aspect
of groundwater.
E.g., Arsenic in groundwater, land subsidence due groundwater extraction,
agricultural chemicals in groundwater, etc.
References
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Groundwater, Freeze and Cherry, 1979, Prentice Hall
A manual of Field Hydrogeology, 1998, Sanders, Prentice Hall
Fundamentals of GROUND WATER, 2003, Schwartz and Zhang, Wiley
Groundwater Hydrology, 2005, Todd and Mays, Wiley
Applied Hydrogeology, 2001, Fetter, Prentice Hall
USGS – Publications
These are available on the USGS web page: http://water.usgs.gov
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Basic Ground-Water Hydrology, 1983 – USGS Water-Supply Paper 2220
Sustainability of ground-water resources – USGS Circular 1186
Groundwater and surface water: A single resource, USGS Circular
Student Information
Name:
SS#:
Home town:
Year in college
Major/ minor
Have you taken intro to geology?
List of other science courses (math, physics, chemistry):
Purpose of taking Groundwater Geology:
Interests/ ambitions/ goals in life