Practical Application and Interpretation of Pumping Tests (virtual short course)

Home | NGWA

Register Now

Date: October 2, 2024
Location: Online, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
CEUs: 4.5 hours

Instructors:

Overview:

Pumping tests are a proven tool in the development of sustainable groundwater resources for evaluating well and aquifer production potential.  Pumping test data can be used to estimate the capacity and efficiency of the pumping well, calculate the transmitting and storage properties of the aquifer, and identify groundwater recharge/barrier boundaries.  This five-hour virtual course will walk you through the applied fundamentals of how to successfully plan and execute a pumping test and interpret the results.  Attendees will learn how to locate, obtain, and interpret existing hydrogeologic information to identify and characterize the key elements of the groundwater flow system, and develop a detailed conceptual hydrogeological model.  The course will cover the application and execution of both variable rate and constant rate pumping tests.  Pumping test data analysis will focus on practical application of straight-line analytical techniques to estimate aquifer hydraulic parameters and the recognition aquifer recharge/boundary effects from drawdown trends.  Breakout sessions, using both group and individual formats, will provide attendees hands-on opportunities using actual site data. This will provide attendees an opportunity to utilize the course concepts.

Who Should Attend:

  • Professional Geologists and Engineers
  • Managers with Planning, Specifying, and Oversight or Responsible for Groundwater Supply Projects
  • Water Well Contractors
  • Federal, State, and Local Natural Resources Personnel
  • Public and Private Water Systems Officials

Fees and registration

On/before before September 20th:

  • NGWA Members: $289
  • Non-Members: $439

After September 21st:

  • NGWA Members: $339
  • Non-Members: $489

Course Agenda
Sustainable Aquifer Management Using Practical Application & Interpretation of Pumping Tests

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Introduction & Logistics

  • Welcome
  • Explanation of Breakout Sessions
  • Use of Chat for Questions
  • Introduce Instructions

Groundwater Basics

  • Overview of Course
  • Review of Aquifers
  • Review of Aquifer Features
  • Summary of Darcy’s Law
  • Flow Systems & Quantifying Groundwater Flow

Groundwater Conceptual Models

  • Scale – Local, Regional & Drainage Basins
  • Wellfield Model
  • Aquifer System Model
  • Otterbein Lake CSM
  • Sustainability Considerations
    • Weather & Climate
    • Stream Influence
    • Sustainable Yield

BREAK

Breakout Session #1 – Developing a Site-Specific Conceptual Model

  • Darbydale, Ohio
  • Aquifer Model
  • Regional Considerations
  • Breakout Discussion

Siting a Well & Developing a Pumping Test

  • Available Locations
  • Geology Considerations
  • Matching Drilling Technique with Expected Geologic Conditions
  • Assuring Well Quality
  • Monitoring Well(s)

LUNCH

Pumping Test Set Up & Data Collection

  • Testing Planning
  • Data Collection
    • What to Measure
    • How to Measure
    • When to Measure
  • Troubleshooting

Pumping Test Data Analysis

  • Drawdown Corrections
  • Data Analysis Using Straight-Line Methods

Breakout Session #2 – Hands-on Data Analysis Using Straight Line Methods

BREAK

Breakout Discussion

Visual Interpretation of Time-Drawdown Curves

  • Review of a Typical Drawdown Curve
  • Group Discussion of Challenging Curve
  • Group Discussions

End of Course Questions

Evaluation & Closing