4.1 Purpose

A clear purpose is required to design and conduct a pumping test. Most often, pumping tests are conducted to determine the magnitude and distribution of field‑scale hydrogeologic properties (K, T, and S). In some settings the purpose may be establishing how aquifers and confining units respond to pumping and to quantify the hydraulic properties of the less permeable confining units. Pumping tests can also be designed to determine whether the hydrogeologic unit is bounded and how the boundaries affect drawdown response over time. In some settings, pumping tests are conducted on production wells to determine sustainable yields for prescribed production schedules. Identifying the purpose is the first step in designing a pumping test (Figure 10).