4

Hydraulics of Wells
4.1 STATIC WATER LEVEL
The level at which the water stands in well before
a
pumping starts is called Static
Water level.

Ground Surtace

Static Water
Level

Imperrious Layer
Fig. 4.1 Static Water level
Dtatie Water Level is
the water
generally expressed as the distance from the ground surface to
level in the well. It is shown in
Fig. 4.1.
4.2 PUMPING WATER LEVEL
This ne level at which water stands in well
a pumping at any given rate. This
Variable and changes with the
quantity of water during pumped.
4.3 DRAW DOWN
Draw down
Pnping wateralevel
t any instant is the
at that
difference between the statie water level and the

instant.
 C-52 Hydraulics of Well
4.4 AREA OF INFLUENCE
The area which gets affected by the pumping of the well is called the
the led area of
inthuence.

4.5 CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

the circle of influence.
Theboundary of the area of influence is called
4.6 ADIus OF INFLUENCE
Te radius of the circle of intluence is called the radius of influence (R). It is shown
in
Fig. 4.2.
Ground surface

Well

Cone of Static
D
oepre*** lh.lI Water Level
********* Depth
Water surface of Water
S Drawdown
Curve

HritTrTTITTTTTTtTTTTTtTTTTTITTTTTTTITTTT
Pumping Water Level
Fig. 4.2 Radius of influence

4.7 WELL YIELD

The yield of
well is the volume of water
a

expressed in litres per second. discharged per unit of time from it. It is

4.8 SPECIFIC CAPACITY

Specific capacity of a well is its yield per unit of draw down. It is
litres/min.metre expressed in

4. STEADY-STATE FLOW OF WELLS IN UNCONFINED AQUIFER

4.9.1. Steady Flow: The flow is said to
be steady when the flow
instant or constant i.e., condition at an
du =0
dt
Where, Velocity of flow
U =

Steady-state flow occurs when there is an

pumped well and the recharge of the aquifer by equilibrium
an outside
between the discharge ot ne
source.
Hydraulics of Wells
C-53
4.9.2. Expression for Steady State Flow in Unconfined
well
Acquifer or Gravity
A. Considercylindrical island of pervious sand surrounded
a

underlain by water at constant

level and by a horizontal impervious base.
Consider an unconfined well located at the centre of the island and
horizontal base. It is shown in Fig. 4.3. penetrating the

hw

-R-

Fig. 4.3 Confined Well

The well discharge Q at any distance r equals
Q Kia (4.1)
dh
Q 2 nrh K.
dr
or, h.ds = Qdr
2TK
Integrating both sides
H
h.dh=Q

hw
27tK
w

H
QIn
2TK

or

2rK w
or
H- I
C-54 Hydraulics of Wells
QTkH-1)
or Q .(4.2)
R
In
TKH+/)(H-h)
Or
.4.3)
In
w
Where, ro= Radius of well,m
Q Constant discharge rate, m3/s
h = Depth ofwater in the well measured from impervious base, m
H =Original elevation of water surface measured from base, m
R =Radius ofisland, m
K =Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, ms-l
B. Let S & S, be the state draw down at two observation wells and
steady r, & r, the
distances of the observation wells from the centre of the test well
respectively.
Let S be the draw down at a distancer from the test well.

hdh- 2TK
d
or

Q TKh-h)
.(4.4)
In
Now h =H-S

Q TIH-S,¥-(H-S,)2-

rK[Hxs-2HS-H -s +2HS,]
In
Dividing Numerator & denomerator by 2H

2HTK
Q -
Hydraulics of Wells
C-55

Now,
2H

SS 2H
where, S,' and S, are corrected
respectively.
steady-state draw downs at
points 1 and2

oQ 2HrKS-Sh)
In
Q 2TS-Sh)
in which T KH =
Assumed transmissibility
42.9.3. Steady State Flow to Well in Confined of the aquifer, ms
Let b be the thickness of aquifer.
Aquifers. It is shown in Fig. 4.4
Then QKia
dh
2mrbK dr
On integrating equ. n (4.6) we get
H
dh 2rbK
w

H-h, =
27tKb
Ground Surface

Original Piezometric
*************~*********" *
Surfacee
Drawdown Curve

Slope dr

LLLLLLLLLLLILEL LLLLLLLLLLLLLI
Confined
Aquifer

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTITTTTTTITTTTTITTTTTT
Re
Flg. 4.4. Steady state flow to well in confined aquifers
 C-56

2TKb (H-h)
Hydraulics of Wel
R

Q2TTS

nR
.4.7
Where, b
"Thickness of the horizontal pervious Stratum
confined between
horizontal impervious strata, m. two
PROBLEM 4.1. Calculate the discharge from a confined well
diameter if the draw down measured at of 100
radial distances of 20 m m
mm
the centreof the well are 0.60 m and 0.20 m and 50 m fro
respectively. om
m
hydraulic conductivity is 2.5 x104 m/, and radius of Aquifer thickness is 1E
determine the sp. capacity of the influence is 500 m.
well. Als

Solution [GATE-2002)
Given Ta50 m, r^= 20 m, Re=500 m

S 0.60 m, S, =
0.20 m, T= 50 x
10 m

K 2.5 x
10 m/s, b= 15 m
We know that,

27KbSS2)for confined well

In
_27T x2.5x10 x (0.6-0.2)

20
10.28 Ls
Specific Capacity Discharge
Unit drawdown (S)

Q 27TKbxs
In
Or Q=27 x Kbxg
In500

50-10-
10.28 10-3 =27X2.5 x10* x15xS
4x2.303 log 10
=2.54x 10x s
Hydraullcs of Wellh

C-57
10.28
2.644.02
4ubatituting the vslue o1 S in equation (1) we have
Sp. Capacity 28 x 103
A.02 2.56% 10 nle Ans.
ROBLEM 4.2. A fully
penetrating, well in
a
the rate
of 30
of 30 Lw, The diameter a confined aquifer discharge at
vious top layer of the
of the well in 30 cm. The
impe aquifer and piezometric distance between
miivity of the aquifer is
160m*d-1, The distances surface is 32 m. The
ho well are 40 m and oo m of the piezometers from
respectively. The head measured in the
piezometer in 22 m. iarther
(A) The head in the nearer
piezometer is
(a) 18.26 m (b) 19.28
20.89 m
) m (d) 22.48 m
(B) The drawdown in the well is
(a) 24.57 m (b) 25.98 m (c) 26.47 m (d) 27.64 m

Solution
IGATE-2003
Given Q 30 Lsl= 30 x
10 m/s
T = 150 m2 d ' = 5 0 = 0.00176 m/s
24 x3600d
r40 m, ry= 60 m, S, =22 m
r 1 5 cm = 15 10 m

Q 27TS,-S2)

QIn 2
or
S-S)- 2TT
60
3010 n40
=1.115 m
2T x0.00176
Or
S, S,=1.115m
SS-1.115m
22-1.115 20.89 m
Therefore, answer of A is (C)
Again, Q 2rT(10-0)

Te
 C-58 Hydrauhs A Wk
2rTx 10
or
In60
2n x0.0017x10

30x10
r =2276.2

Now 27tTxs

Inu)
Q.In
S -
2xT

30x10n 2276.2
1510
2n x 0.00176
26.4 m
lence, answer of (B) is (C).
PROBLEM 4.3. One 10 diameter auger hole is drilled to a
cm
below the ground level. An depth of 1 m
imperable bed is located 2 m helow the ground
surface. The equilibrium water table
depth is 50 cm below the ground level. If
the water level rises from 10 cm to
20 cm level in a
calculate the hydraulic period of 30 second
conductivity of the soil. If the hole is drilled upto the
impermeable bed, how much time will be required for the
from 110 to 120 cm level if water level to rise
hydraulic conductivity is assumed to be constant.
Solution
Given:
2a =
10 cm a =0.05 m
At 30s
d 50 cm =0.5 n
Refering Fig. 4.5
We know that

K = aS
(2d+ S)At
S add
0.19
0.05x0.5
0.190.1316
Now, K 0.05x0.1316 0.40
In
(2x0.5+0.1316)x300.30
= 5.191 m/day
 Hydraulics of Wells
C-59

50cm

1m

-10cm

1m

Fig. 4.5. Auger hole

When the hole is drilled upto the
impermeable bed, hydraulic conductivity is given by
K =5,23,000-logi
2
, = 1.5 - 1.1 = 0.4

2 1.5-1.2 0.3
5.191 = 5,23.000 O.05). 0.4
log
0.3
or
5.191
163.3574

t = 31.47s

PROBLEM AA. A 20 cm well

completely penetrates an artesian Assume The
ength of strainer is 15 m. What is its yield for a draw down of 3 m. aquifer. K=
0 mday, Radius of influence R = 300 m. If the diameter of the well is doubled,
nd the
percentage increase in the yield, the other conditions remain the same.

IGATE-1992]
Solution
Given
=0.1l m;b=15 m;s= 3m
u=0.2 m;k=36 m day-1
R 300
We know that,
27nkbs 10173.6
In(R/r) 8.006
= 1270.75 m°day-1
 C-60

0.0147 m3s-1
Hydraulics of Wel
= 14.7 Ls-l Ans.

2TKbS
Again, Q =.
In

2Kbs

2TKbS
InR
Two
% increase =
2 x100
Q
n w
R
In R
3001300
0.1 0.2
lnS 0 0

0.1
= 8.68% Ans.

PROBLEM 4.5. In a soil

where
water table
depth of 600 mm below high water table condition
auger hole is drilled to a ground level) (equilibrium
the ground level depth of 1 m below the exists, one 125 mm diameter
120
an
impermeablebed is located. Ifground level. At 2.5 m below
mm to 200 mm level in 25 the water table
rises from
the soil.
Assuming second, determine the
for the water constant hydraulic hydraulic conductivityo
level to rise from
1.0 m to 1.5 m
conductivity.
Calculate the time
required
Solution level?
[GATE-1998]
Given d 1-0.6 0.4m

0.4-0.12 =0.28
0.40.2 0.2 m
At = 2aS

a 0.125
=0.0625m
2
Refering Fig: 4.6.
nI n = K(2d +a) A
aS
Hydraulicsof Wells

C-61
S0d
0.0625 x0.4
0.19 0.19 -0.131
aSIn o
K
(2+a).At
0.0625 x0.131 xIn.28
0.2
(2x0.40.0625) x25
=
128.32x 10-6
ms1=11.08 m
day-1
2d

***

**********************'******T***** **"**

******** *****

*******************************************^** | 2.5m
***********wo--~~.

Fig. 4.6
When hole drilled upto
imperable bed then
= 523000-log
, 1.9-1=0.9 m
, 1.9-1.5 0.4 m

t 523000
(0.0621oe4
11.08
0.9
(0.9

=
184.4 loE 0.4
=
184.4 x 0.352
=
64.94 s Ans.
PROBIEM Water from an unconfined aquifer having transmissivity of
1000 m
per day is pumped
at a
rate of 1200 through a fully penetrating well of 30 em diameter
m per day if the radius of influencoe is 400 m, compute.
4) The draw
down in the wel
Gi) The rdraw
do
a w down at a radial distance of 25 m from the wel [GATE-20001
Solution
Given T =
1000 m2/day
 C-62
Hydraulics of Wel
D 30 cm
els
Q 1200 m3/day
R 400 m
ra 15 cm =0.15 m
Draw down in the well

Q 2tKb(h -h)
InRe

Again Q 27 XTxS
In
Tu
400
1200x In
s =QnRe1 Te 0.15
2rtT 2T x 1000
2 1.2,40,000
27t 15
=
1.506 m Ans.
(i)
Q = 2rTx(S-S2)
In2

Here, T225 m
T 0.15
S=?
S, = 1.5

Qxln2
s-S 2TT
1200xln25
12000.15- 0.978
27Tx1000
S2
1.507-0.978= 0.529 m Ans.
=

PROBLEM 4.7. In an
experiment on
Hooghoudt's formula, water table observed finding hydraulic conductivity by
at 240 cm
table was lowered by 95 ground level. Water below
The observations on
cm.
rise of water level in the 10 cm
diameter auger hole was taken and the
water level rises
time period. The auger hole by 10 cm in one minute
terminates at the
impervious layer. Determine the
hydraulic conductivity. Assume appropriate value if required.
Solution
Given: 2a 10 cm =
0.1 m
a = 0.05 m
Hydraulicsof Wells
C-63

Ground Surface

-2a V

Ay

Lmpervious Layer

Fig. 4.7. Auger hole

Let the impervious layer is 400 cm below the ground surface

Y 1.6-0.95 0.65 m

Y, 1.6-0.10
=
1.5 m

t = 1 min. = 60s

Refering Fig. 4.7.

We know that, K 523000

t

5)2
523000 . 0 log1.5
60 0.65
60 logL5 )
1307.1oe o.65)
21.79log (2.31)
= 21.79 x 0.364 7.92 m/day Ans.
from the test
PROBLEM 4.8. Deternmine the hydraulic conductivity
bottom 1 m below the
diameter having its
COnducted in a n auger hole of 8 c m 3.0 m Before
layer from water table is
impervious
ater table. The depth to hole w a s brought
to 2.2 m above
the
level in the
m above the
E the test water level w a s raised in the hole to 2.8
ervious layer. The water IGATE-1990]
impervious layer in 3h.
Solution
Given o 1 . 0 -0.2 =0.8
m

y1 1-0.8 0.2
m

a =4 cm =4 x 10 m
 C-64 Hydraulics of Well
d = 1 mn

S X10-x1

0.19
= 0.21

Refering Fig. 4.8.

-8cm
Yo
1m *********** *

*****

2.8m
2.2m
d=2m

Fig. 4.8. Anger hole

K= 2.3.a.5los
(2d+ a).t
2.3x4x10-2 x0.21
log 4
(2x1+4x10-)x3
=
1.900 mm/h Ans.
PROBLEM 4.9. A well
overlain by impermeable penetrating aquifer which is underlain and
an
layers was tested with
a uniform
litres per minute. The
steady state downdowns discharge of 1000
wells which were at 1 m measured in two observation
and 10 m radial
pumped well were 13.4 m distances from the centre of the
and 4.2 m
calculate the respectively. Using Dupuit-Thiem equation
transmissibility
saturated thickness
and hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer if
is 10 m itS
[ARS-1997]
Solution
Given
Q 1000 lpm Im3/min =

r l m, r, = 10 m
S, =
13.4 m,
S,= 4.2 m and b= 10 n
We know that, Q =2TS-S2
In
Hydraulics of Wells C-65

Q.In2
or
T
=0.0398 m/min
2t(S-S2)
T 0.0398
Therefore K= =0.00398 m/ min Ans.
b 10
PROBLEMA0. In a falling head per-meameter test, the initial head is 43
The head drops by 6 cm in 12 minutes. Calculate the time required to run
cm
he test if a final head of 21l cm is to be attained. Also, if the sample is 8 cm in
height and 50cm in cross-sectional area, calculate the co-efficient o
Dermeability taking the area of stand pipe as 0.5 cm [GATE-1991,1997]
Solution

Given ho= 43 cm
h =
37 cm

t = 12 min.

h 2 1 cm
h = 8 cm

A =50 cm2
a = 0.5 cm2

ah n o

n
Now, 12 37
43
In
(43
12xIn1 12x0.7158.b 57.33 min =

or t 0.15 0.15
(43
In 37
have
Substituting all the values in equation (i), we

K =
0.5 x8 n 43
*50x12"37)
1.0019 x 10 cm/ min
10x 60 x 24 cm/ day
= 1.0019 x

= 1.44 cm/day Ans. thick contined

well penetrates a 10 m
c m diameter at aa
0.05 mm at
nd 0.05
ROBLEM 1 . A 10 found to be 2.5 m
and
well, when the
draw-down were
aquifer.
TheThe steady
st« state
of the well,
of the 12 when the
ddistances of 10 m and 40 m respectively from the centre
hours.
Using
wCesof discharge rate of 125
lpm for
we operated with a
constant
 C-66
Dupit-Thiem equation, calculate the
Hydraulics of Well
transmissibility and hydranl
conductivity of the aquifer.
Solution
hydraulie
ARS-1998
Given: d= 10 m, r.=5 cm =0.05 m, b= 10 m,
S,=2.5 m
S =0.05 m, r,
=
10 m, r, =
40 m, Q= 12 Lpm
t= 12h
+0.00208 ma
For confined aquifeer

Q 2rT(S1-S2
In 2

or
T
.In 2
27(S1-S2)
0.00208xIn 40
10
27 x (2.5-0.05)
= 0.000187 m2

-T-0.016
0.00187
10 0.0000187 m/s Ans.
PROBLEM 12. A 20 cm
litres/min. Observations of diameter well is pumped at a uniform rate of 200
the centre of drawdown, taken at 1 m and 100 m distances from
well, are found to be 10 m
and 0.5 m
hydraulic conductivity of the water bearing respectively. Determine the
part of the aquifer to be 30 m. strata assuming of the
saturated
Solution
Given
2 r 20 cm
Q 2000 L/min.
= 2 m3/min.

T100m
1 mn
S=0.6 m
S = 10 m
H =
30 m
s, H-4,, h,
h H-S, 30-0.5
=
H-S, =
=
30- 10=
20 m
29.5 m
 Hydraulics of Wells
C-67
Now,

or 2 = T29.5) - (20)21
In100

4.605 1870.25-400]
K 4605 x2
TTx (470.25)
K 0.00624 m/min.
PROBLEM 4.13 A 25g/L solution of fluorescent a
tracer was
a stream at a constant rate of 10 cm'/s.
The background discharged into
dye in the stream water was found
to be zero. At a
concentration of the
sufficiently away, the dye was found to reach an
far downstream section
of 5 parts per billion. Estimate the stream discharge.
equilibrium concentration
Solution
Given 1 0 cm, C, 25glL' =
=
0.025 kgL
C = back conc. of river = 0

Q Stream discharge
Ceq 5ppb =
.5 x
10 kg/L
Now
Ceg-C
10x10 [0.025-5x10]
5x10-0
10x103
x 0.25
5
50 m/s Ans.
PROBLEM 4.14. A well is drawing water from a confined aquifer of 30 m
thickness and rate of pumping is 3000 L/min.
Hydraulic conductivity of the
aquifer is 36m/day. Assuming storage co-efficient of the
aquifer as 0.002,
Calculate the drawdown of the well at 100 m away from it, after a lapse of 12
hours.
Solution
Given; Thickness = b = 30 m
Q 3,000 L/min = 3 x 60 m9/s

H.C
180 m/s
= 36 m/day

S Storage coeff. =0.002

r = Radial distribution = 100 m
 C-68
Hydraulics of W
Time elapsed 12h. =

from Jackab Cooper equation

2.3Q, 2.26T
Draw down =SAr'O2
T kb
2.3x180x 2 4 x 3600, 2.25 x 36x 30x12
Og
4xnx36 x 30 100x002 x 24
= 4.107 m Ans.
PROBLEM 4.15. A fully penetrating well driven into a confined aquifer t
fer, i
pumped at a constant rate of 1500 m'day ', After one day of pumping the
drawdown at a distance of 350 m from production well is 1.41m. From this tue.
curve and pumping test data, well function W(u) = 2.316 and well functio
on
obtained.
5.87x10-2 The
parameter u =

transmissibility (T) of the aquifer are

are storage co-efficient(») and

(A) S 1.48 x 10, T= 36.55 m2 day-1

(B)S 3.75 x 10, T=196.06 m day-1
(C) S = 9.395 x 10S, T= 392.13 m2 day1

(D) S 1.916 x 10", T =169.31 m2day

Solution

Drawdown =-47tT
2 edu
u=g4T
4rT
W(u)
where u =Well Parameter
S Storage co-efficient
T Transmissibility
Now, Drawdown =
Wu)
4nT
or 1.41=500
4rx 2.316
4rT
T = 600x2.316
4rx1.41 196.06 m2 day-1
Now, S
4Tt

S m 4x196.06 x1 x5.87 x10-2

(350)2
3.75x 10
Therefore, Ans. is (B)