53:102 GROUNDWATER

Homework #1
DUE: Friday, Sept 2. in the beginning of class
Note: no late homework accepted unless you contact me before it is due
Readings: Schwartz & Zhang 3.1 through 3.6+ Class notes
1. A soil core is selected that consists mostly of quartz and has a total volume of 200 mL. The
soil mass as collected (i.e., wet) is 326 g and 200 g after it is dried.

Compute:
a. bulk density (g / mL)
b. porosity (%)
c. void ratio (%)
d . moisture content (%)
e. % saturation
2. Compute and compare the hydraulic conductivity (m/s) of a formation with respect to the
three liquids below. The formation has a permeability k = 0.1 darcys and g = 9.8 m/s
2
.
Liquid viscosity (g/cm s) density (g/cm
3
)
water 0.01 1.0
Gasoline 0.0037 0.74
Heavy oil 1.50 1.0
Trichloroethene 0.0056 1.46
3. Calculate the specific discharge in m/s for a hydraulic conductivity of 10
-6
m/s and a
hydraulic gradient of 0.019.
4. An aquifer has the following properties: K = 0.0001 cm/s, hydraulic gradient = 0.15, cross-
sectional area = 20,000 sq. ft, and a porosity = 25%
Calculate:
a. K in gpd / sq. ft
b. k in sq. cm.
c. k in Darcys
d. specific discharge, q (cm/s)
e. specific discharge, q (ft/dy)
f. volumetric discharge, Q, gpm
g. volumetric discharge, Q, cubic meters / dy
h. average linear velocity (ft/dy)
5. Two wells (A and B located along the hydraulic gradient) screened above the water table in
an unconfined aquifer are separated by 2000 ft. The elevation of the water table in well A is
590 ft. The elevation of the water table in well B is 580 ft. The aquifer is 40 ft thick, 400 ft
wide, has a porosity of 25% and has a hydraulic conductivity of 0.01 cm / s. (useful
conversions and constants: 30.5 cm / ft, 86400 s / dy, = 1.1 x 10
-3
N-s / m
2
)
a. What is the hydraulic gradient between the wells?
b. What is the specific discharge (ft/dy)?
c. What is the discharge (gallons / yr)?
d. What is the average linear velocity (ft/dy)?
e. How long will it take for the groundwater to reach a stream 1 mile away (yr)?
g. What is the permeability of the aquifer material (cm
2
)?
5. A constant head permeameter has a cross-sectional area of 78.5 cm2. The sample is 23 cm
long. At a head of 3.4 cm, the permeameter discharges 50 cm3 is 38s.
a. What is K in cm/s and ft/d?
b. What is k, if K was measured at 15C
c. Based on K, name the type of soil.