Exercise 2

The aquifer system shown in Figure Exercise 2‑1 undergoes groundwater pumping. The decline of the water table and piezometric head are recorded after 1 month and shown in the figure. The following information is available:

• aquitard: soil compressibility c_b = 10^‑3 bar^‑1;
• phreatic aquifer: porosity 35 percent, moisture content 10 percent, c_b = 10^‑4 bar^‑1; and,
• confined aquifer: c_b = 2×10^‑5 bar^‑1;

Compute the cumulative land subsidence after 1 month and after 10 years assuming that the pressure decrease within the aquifers remains constant and that the aquitard hydraulic conductivity is three orders of magnitude smaller than that of the aquifers.

Figure Exercise 2‑1 ‑ Sketch of exercise 2.

Click here for solution to exercise 2