Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2011DE211B

Hydraulic Properties of the Columbia Aquifer

Institute: Delaware
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2011-03-01 End Date: 2012-02-29
Total Federal Funds: $3,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $6,000

Principal Investigators: Alan Andres, Nicholas Spalt

Abstract: The unconfined aquifer, also known as the Columbia aquifer, is an important water resource in Delaware. This aquifer is used as a source of water by domestic, irrigation, and public supply wells. The Columbia is the source of all base flow in streams. All ground water in deeper confined aquifers has flowed through the Columbia aquifer. As the population of this area increases, there will be increasing demand on this resource both for water supply and for wastewater disposal. Measurements of aquifer hydraulics and ground-water flow models are the means by which scientists quantify and assess the effects of water withdrawals, wastewater disposal on ground and surface water resources. Objectives of this research include: For the DWRC intern to gain practical knowledge and experience in (1) the acquisition and management of subsurface geologic and aquifer testing data and (2)interpretation and analysis of hydrogeologic data in the context of assembling and running a simple ground-water flow model. The intern will have responsibility for collecting aquifer test data in the field, analyzing and interpreting the test results, assembling and running a simple ground-water flow model, and compiling a report of findings on selected characteristics of the unconfined aquifer in Southern New Castle County, Delaware. The intern will also interact with other staff at the DGS, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and consulting geologists and will prepare a final technical report describing the project design and results.