Beschrijving
In this course, the students will learn the basic knowledge required for the understanding of the origin, the behaviour and the fate of groundwater. The importance of groundwater in terms of quantity and quality will be discussed, as well as the anthropogenic influence on groundwater. The students will develop the necessary tools for an integrated understanding of groundwater
The course is valuable for anyone interested in environmental sciences, urban planning, agriculture, and water management.
Contents
- Introduction (definitions, use of groundwater, social relevance of groundwater, distribution of groundwater, saturated and unsaturated zones, aquifers and aquitards)
- Occurrence of groundwater: Hydrological cycle and water balance
- Hydrostatics in the saturated and unsaturated zone, water level, piezometric maps
- Groundwater flow: Darcy's law, hydraulic conductivity, advection
- Groundwater flow equations, pumping and slug tests, dewatering
- Groundwater quality (major and minor elements, ionic balance, diagrams)
- Transport of solute and non-aqueous phase liquid, heat transport
- Sustainable use of groundwater
- Groundwater in Flanders
- From groundwater to drinking water (guest seminar)
Initial competences
A basic knowledge of the properties of sediments and rocks is useful but not (Approved) mandatory.
A basic knowledge of mathematical concepts is necessary (derivates, integrals, differential equations).
Final competences
1 Recognise the occurrence of groundwater in the subsurface.
2 Estimate and analyze the components of the water balance.
3 Discuss the hydrogeological field methods and measurements.
4 Explain and estimate groundwater flow. Identify and discuss the hydraulic parameters involved.
5 Derive the equations of groundwater flow and pumping. Predict the effects of groundwater extraction.
6 Understand the hypothesis needed to make quantitative hydrogeological assessment
7 Describe and apply the concepts of groundwater quality.
8 Identify and apply the principle of transport of dissolved species, contaminants and heat in groundwater.
9 Summarize the analysis of a hydrogeological situation and design possible sustainable solutions.
10 Being aware of the societal relevance and the vulnerability of groundwater.
11 Name the main aquifer systems in Flanders
Teaching methods
Excursion, Lecture,
Practical Extra information on the teaching methods
During the (online) lectures, the theoretical concepts related to the course will be taught with examples. Students are encouraged to actively participate through short assignments. During practicals, exercises related to the concepts studied during the lectures will be given. The students solve those exercises by themselves under the supervision of an assistant. Some exercices are solved through programming code in python. A seesion is dedicated to the access to the DOV (and pyDOV) database. During fieldwork (excursion), the theoretical concepts are applied in real field conditions: measurement of hydraulic heads, slug tests and pumping tests. The acquired data are later processed and interpreted during the practicals. During a guest lecture, a hydrogeologist from a drinking water company is invited and explain the path followed by water from the aquifer to the tap.
