Developing a Technically Sound Aquifer Test Plan that Meets the Requirements of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Transcription

1 Developing a Technically Sound Aquifer Test Plan that Meets the Requirements of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission NY PA Brooks G. Abeln, P.G. Hydrogeologist, Project Review September 24, 2012 MD

2 Susquehanna River Basin

3 REGULATED WATER USE

4 CONSTANT-RATE AQUIFER TESTING Prerequisite for groundwater withdrawal applications Must be conducted in accordance with a preapproved plan Results submitted with the groundwater withdrawal application o Determine the sustainable yield of the well o Evaluate the aquifer o Demonstrate that the requested withdrawal will not cause adverse impacts to other users and the environment Successful completion of an approved aquifer test does not guarantee an approval of the requested withdrawal

5 AQUIFER TESTING GUIDANCE An aquifer test plan should be developed in accordance with the SRBC Aquifer Testing Guidance (Policy No ) Copies available on our website ( under the Policies, Guidance & Regulations tab

6 APPROVABLE AQUIFER TESTING PLAN COMPONENTS Background Information Hydrogeologic Description Groundwater Availability Analysis Aquifer Test Procedures Aquifer Testing Monitoring Network

7 HYDROGEOLOGIC DESCRIPTION Geologic formations Aquifer characteristics Dominant type(s) of permeability Structural data Hydrogeologic boundaries

8 CONSTRUCTION & HYDROGEOLOGIC WELL LOG Good! Bad!

9 TOPOGRAPHIC MAP(S) Contributing Geology Estimated Area of Influence Groundwater Contours Potential Recharge Boundaries Proposed Monitoring Network Proposed Discharge Location Hydrogeologic Cross Sections

10 HYDROGEOLOGIC CROSS SECTIONS Good!

11 HYDROGEOLOGIC CROSS SECTIONS (CONT D) Bad!

12 GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY ANALYSIS Geologic Formation Map Symbol Age Rock Type Recharge Area (mi 2 ) 1-in-2 Recharge Rate (mgd/mi 2 ) 1-in-10 Recharge Rate (mgd/mi 2 ) 1-in-10 Recharge (mgd) Annville Fm Oan Ordovician High-calcium limestone Cocalico Fm Oco Ordovician Shale, Siltstone, Argillaceous Sandstone Epler Fm Oe Ordovician Limestone, Dolomite Hershey and Myerstown Fm, undivided Ohm Ordovician Argillaceous limestone, Limestone New Oxford conglomerate Trnc Triassic Quartz conglomerate New Oxford Fm Trn Triassic Arkosic sandstone, Shale, Mudstone, Sandstone Stonehenge Fm Os Ordovician Limestone, Conglomeratic siliceous limestone Total Recharge Area = 6.17 Total 1-in-10 Recharge = 2.51 mgd = million gallons per day mi 2 = square mile mgd/mi 2 = million gallons per day per square mile

13 GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY ANALYSIS (CONT D) Line Recharge Area Water Budget Total (mgd) 1 Groundwater Recharge (1-in-10 yr) Groundwater Withdrawals Groundwater Availability Proposed Withdrawal Remaining Groundwater Percent Utilization of 1-in-10-year Drought Recharge [(Line 5/Line 3) x 100] 6.1%

14 AQUIFER TESTING PROCEDURES Anticipated Schedule o Step Test o Background Monitoring o 72-hr Constant Rate Pumping o Recovery Monitoring Equipment, valving, and metering o Pump setting o Flow controls o Check valve

15 AQUIFER TESTING PROCEDURES (CONT D) Monitoring Network o Locations and rational o Monitoring devices o Parameters to be collected o Frequency Precipitation Discharge Location

16 Groundwater Monitoring Points MONITORING NETWORK Surface Water Monitoring Points

17 SRBC REVIEW & APPROVAL Submit two hard copies and electronic version on CD o Must include payment for Aquifer Test Plan Evaluation Fee Reviewed in the order it was received The processing time significantly reduced if the plan meets SRBC standards in the first submission Receive approval before initiating test Unless otherwise specified, SRBC approval of an aquifer testing plan is valid for two years from the date of approval

18 SUMMARY Prerequisite for groundwater withdrawal applications Results used to determine the sustainable yield of the well, evaluate the aquifer, and demonstrate that the requested withdrawal will not cause adverse impacts to other users and the environment An aquifer test plan must be reviewed and approved by SRBC staff before a project sponsor undertakes the testing The processing time for the a proposed aquifer test plan can be significantly reduced the plan meets SRBC standards in the first submission Follow the SRBC Aquifer Testing Guidance (Policy No , Dec 5, 2007)

19 Developing a Technically Sound Aquifer Test Plan that Meets the Requirements of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission Presenter: Brooks G. Abeln, P.G. Hydrogeologist Susquehanna River Basin Commission Special thanks to SRBC staff for site photography: Project Review Program Staff