1. Hydrogeology EEES 4410/5410 Jamie M. Martin-Hayden Associate Professor
(419)

2. Ground Water The Unseen Part of the Water Cycle
Aquifer
Salt Groundwater

3. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Earth materials
Rock
Sediment (Soil)
Water
Geologic processes
Form,
Distribute and
Change earth materials
Water is a primary agent of many (all?) geologic processes

4. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Interactions go both ways
Groundwater controls geologic processes
Geology controls flow and availability of groundwater

5. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials

6. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials

7. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials
Where groundwater is available as a resource is controlled by geology

8. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Geology controls groundwater flow
Permeable pathways are controlled by distributions of geological materials
Where groundwater is available as a resource is controlled by geology
Contaminant transport in the subsurface is controlled by geology

9. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Groundwater controls geologic processes
Volcanic Processes:
Groundwater controls water content of magmas
Groundwater injected by magmas can metamorphose country rocks
Geysers are an example of volcanic activity interacting with groundwater

10. Hydrogeology Defined Water/Earth Interactions
Groundwater controls geologic processes
Earthquakes: fluids control fracturing and fault movement, lubrication and pressures
Landslides: groundwater controls slope failure
Landforms: Valley development and karst topography

11. Trends in population and freshwater withdrawals by source, 1950-2000.

12. Trends in total water withdrawals by water-use category, 1950-2000.

13. 1861: Frazier v. Brown English Rule in Ohio
Ohio Groundwater Law
1843: Acton v. Blundell “English Rule”
The landowner can pump groundwater at any rate even if an adjoining property owner were harmed.
1861: Frazier v. Brown English Rule in Ohio
Groundwater is
“…occult and concealed…”
and legislation of its use is
“…practically impossible.”

14. Wisconsin Groundwater Law
1903: Huber v. Merkel
English Rule in Wisconsin
A property owner can pump unlimited amounts of groundwater,
even with malicious harm to a neighbor.
1974: Wisconsin v. Michels Pipeline Constructors Inc.
English Rule Overturned
Landowners no longer have “an absolute right to use with impunity all water that can be pumped from the subsoil underneath.”

15. English Rule Overturned in Ohio
1984: Cline v. American Aggregates
 English Rule overturned in Ohio
Justice Holmes: “Scientific knowledge in the field of hydrology has advanced in the past decade…” so it
“…can establish the cause and effect relationship of the tapping of underground water to the existing water level.”
Today: Lingering effects of English Rule
It is very difficult to prove cause and effect to be defensible in court.

16. Who Uses Ground Water?
Eg. Groundwater use in Ohio

17. Most available fresh water is ground water
The Hydrologic Cycle
Atmosphere
0.0001%
Streams and Lakes
0.01%
(3%)
Oceans
97.2%
0.61%
(97%)
Most available fresh water is ground water

18. The Hydrologic Cycle Atmosphere (global moisture transport)
Component
The Hydrologic Cycle
Transfer
Atmosphere (global moisture transport)
Precipitation
Precipitation
Overland flow
Evaporation &
Transpiration
Evaporation
Infiltration
Fresh Surface Water
(Lakes, Streams, wetlands)
Stream flow (runoff)
Runoff
Ocean
(salt water)
Baseflow
Ground
Water (Ground-Water Flow)

19. The Hydrologic Cycle Atmosphere 13,000 km3/yr Fresh Surface Water
Component
The Hydrologic Cycle
Transfer
Atmosphere ,000 km3/yr
Precipitation
320,000 km3
Precipitation
100,000 km3
Overland flow
Evaporation &
Transpiration
70,000 km3
Evaporation
350,000 km3/yr
Infiltration ?
Fresh Surface Water
125,000 km3
(runoff)
Ocean
1.32 b km3
Runoff
38,000 ? ?
Baseflow ?
Ground m km3
Water