Download Hydrogeology Defined

Hydrogeology
EEES 4410/5410
Jamie M. Martin-Hayden
Associate Professor
(419) 530-2634
[email protected]
Hydrogeology Defined
Water
Earth
Earth materials
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Rock
Sediment (Soil)
Fluids (Water)
Geologic processes
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
Form,
Transform and
Distribute (redistribute) Earth materials
Water is a primary agent of many (all?)
geologic processes
Hydrogeology Defined
Water Earth Interactions
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Interactions go both ways
 Groundwater controls
geologic processes.
 Geology controls flow
and availability of
groundwater.
Hydrogeology Defined
Water Earth Interactions

Geology controls groundwater flow
 Permeable pathways are controlled by
distributions of geological materials.
 E.g., Artesian (confined) aquifer
Hydrogeology Defined
Water Earth Interactions

Geology controls groundwater flow
 Permeable pathways are controlled by
distributions of geological materials.
 Groundwater availability is controlled by geology.
Hydrogeology Defined
Water Earth Interactions

Geology controls groundwater flow
 Permeable pathways are controlled by
distributions of geological materials.
 Groundwater availability is controlled by geology.
 Subsurface contaminant
transport in is controlled
by geology.
Hydrogeology Defined
Water Earth Interactions

Groundwater controls geologic processes
 Igneous Rocks:
Groundwater controls water
content of magmas.
 Metamorphic Rocks:
Metasomatism (change in
composition) is controlled by
superheated pore fluids.
 Volcanism: Geysers are an
example of volcanic activity
interacting with groundwater.
Hydrogeology Defined
Water Earth Interactions

Groundwater controls geologic processes
 Landforms: Valley development and karst topography are
examples of groundwater geomorphology.
 Landslides: Groundwater controls slope failure.
 Earthquakes: Fluids control fracturing, fault movement,
lubrication and pressures.
Hydrogeology Subdisciplines
Water resource evaluation
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What controls how much
groundwater is stored and can be
safely extracted?
What controls where groundwater
comes from and where it flows?
What controls natural water quality:
natural interactions with geological
materials control the chemistry of
groundwater?
How can we protect groundwater
recharge areas and groundwater
reservoirs from contamination and
depletion?
Hydrogeology Subdisciplines
Contaminant Hydrogeology
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Anthropogenic effects: degradation
of water quality due to human
influences (contamination)
How fast are dissolved
contaminants carried by
groundwater?
Transport pathways of
contaminants: Where are sources
of contamination impacting the
groundwater, where are the going
and what are the destinations?
Remediation (clean-up) of
contaminants dissolved in the
groundwater.
Ohio Groundwater Law

1843: Acton v. Blundell
“English Rule”
The landowner can pump
groundwater at any rate
even if an adjoining
property owner were
harmed.

1861: Frazier v. Brown
English Rule in Ohio
Groundwater is
“…occult and concealed…”
and legislation of its use is
“…practically impossible.”
Wisconsin Groundwater Law
1903: Huber v. Merkel
English Rule in Wisconsin
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1974: Wisconsin v. Michels
Pipeline Constructors Inc.
English Rule Overturned
A property owner can
pump unlimited amounts
of groundwater,
even with malicious harm  Landowners no longer have
“an absolute right to use with
to a neighbor.
impunity all water that can be
pumped from the subsoil
underneath.”
English Rule Overturned in Ohio
1984: Cline v. American Aggregates
English Rule overturned in Ohio
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Justice Holmes: “Scientific
knowledge in the field of hydrology
has advanced in the past
Today: Lingering effects
decade…” so it
of English Rule
“…can establish the cause and  It is very difficult to prove
effect relationship of the tapping of cause and effect to be
underground water to the existing
defensible in court.
water level.”