ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction to ground water resources and the physical and chem ical processes which influence their avail - ability. Beginning with the nature and occurrence of groundwater, and concepts of recharge, discharge and water balance, the idea of ground - water management is introduced. Then, the phys - ical processes of groundwater flow are dealt with in more detail, in order to explain the distribution
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
n describe the role of groundwater in the hydrological cycle n understand factors influencing recharge and water balance, and the potential impacts of groundwater
abstraction and injection n appreciate which characteristics of rocks and soils determine whether they are groundwater aquifers n understand causes of groundwater movement and the factors that affect flow rates below the ground
surface, including the important concepts of hydraulic head, hydraulic gradient and Darcy’s Law n appreciate that groundwater flow can be represented using hydrogeological maps and numerical
simulations n explain the basics of groundwater abstraction/injection techniques and their associated problems n describe the factors that influence the natural chemical constituents of potable groundwater n describe key groundwater contaminants, the major threats to groundwater quality and the main
factors influencing groundwater vulnerability to pollution.
