▪ the science of the occurrence, distribution and

movement of water below the surface of the earth

▪ Water that occurs below the surface of Earth

▪ Occupies all or part of the void spaces in soils or geologic
strata
▪ Also called subsurface water
▪ an important source of water supply throughout the
world
▪ use in irrigation, industries, urban and rural home
continues to increase
▪ Regulated by

▪ quantum and speed of rains

▪ extent of vaporization during rain
▪ Temperature
▪ slope of land
▪ dryness of air
▪ porosity and permeability of rocks
▪ vegetative cover
▪ water absorbing capacity of soil
▪ Groundwater Percentage
▪ 0.58% if the total water resources available in
nature
▪ 22.21% fresh water part
▪ 2.6% of reservoirs
▪ Located at 4km depth in earth’s surface

▪ Total water existing on earth : 1,384,120,000 cu km

▪ Total ground water: 8,000,042 cu km
▪ Soil moisture: 61,234 cu km
1. Meteoric water:
▪ Main source of groundwater
▪ Received in the form of rain and snow through
infiltration of pores, fissures and joints
2. Connate Water:
▪ Exists in pores and cavities of sedimentary rocks of
seas and lakes
▪ Also called sedimentary water
3. Magmatic Water:
▪ Converts water after condensation of vapor as
result of volcanic action at time of entering hot
rocks
▪ VOLUMETRIC PROPERTIES OF SOIL
▪ Flow in soils and rocks takes place through void
spaces
▪ hydraulic properties of soils and rocks depend on
the sizes and shapes of the void spaces
▪ PROPERTIES DEFINING SOIL
▪ Porosity, n
▪ volumetric moisture content, q
▪ relative moisture content, R
▪ Permeability
▪ Porosity, n
▪ Also called void fraction
▪ Measure of the void spaces in a material

▪ volumetric moisture content, q

▪ The numerical measure of soil moisture
▪ the ratio of water volume to soil volume
▪ relative moisture content, R
▪ Amount of water contained in soil particle
▪ The ratio of the volume of water to the volume of
voids of soil

▪ Permeability
▪ Property of soil to enable transmission of water
and air
▪ The more permeable the soil, the greater the
seepage
▪ Groundwater occurrence is controlled by geology
▪ Groundwater occurs when water recharges the
subsurface through cracks and pores in soil and rock

▪ Groundwater Occurrence

1. Zone of Aeration (unsaturated)

▪ Consists of interstices occupied partially by
water and partially by air
▪ Soil Water zone
▪ Sub-soil zone
▪ Capillary zone
▪ Groundwater Occurrence

2. Zone of Saturation (saturated)

▪ All interstices are filled with water under
hydrostatic pressure
▪ Extends from the upper surface of saturation down
to the underlying impermeable rock
▪ Water table (Phreatic surface) occurs if there is no
overlying impermeable strata
▪ Forms the upper surface of the zone of
saturation
4 Types of Geological Formations
1. Aquifers
▪ A saturated formation of earth material
▪ Stores water and yield sufficient quantity
▪ Transmits water relatively easily due to high
permeability
▪ Sand and gravel form good aquifers
2. Aquitard
▪ Formation through which seepage is possible
▪ Yield significant compared to an aquifer
▪ Partly permeable
▪ Appreciable quantities of water may leak to an
aquifer below it
4 Types of Geological Formations
3. Aquiclude
▪ A porous but not permeable geological formation
▪ May bear water but do not yield
▪ Argillaceous rocks, clay and shale are typical
examples
4. Aquifuge
▪ Neither a porous nor permeable geological formation
▪ No interconnected openings
▪ Cannot transmit or absorb water
▪ Suitable for ground water occurrence
▪ Massive granites and quartzite are typical examples
 1. UNCONFINED AQUIFER
2. CONFINED AQUIFER
3. SEMI-CONFINED AQUIFER

1. UNCONFINED AQUIFER
▪ Also called water table
▪ Upper water surface is at atmospheric pressure
▪ Able to rise and fall
▪ Usually closer to earth's surface
2. CONFINED AQUIFER
▪ Also known as artesian or pressure aquifers
▪ Below the land surface saturated with water
▪ Bound by impermeable layers above and below
▪ Under pressure
▪ If penetrated by a well, water rises above the top of
aquifer
3. LEAKY AQUIFERS
▪ Also called semi-confined aquifers
▪ both of Upper and lower boundaries are aquitards
▪ Or one boundary is an aquitard and the other is an
aquiclude