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NEW MEXICO GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

NEW MEXICO GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION. Why Test the Aquifers of New Mexico?. January 24, 2009. W. Peter Balleau , Balleau Groundwater, Inc. CHALLENGES TO GROUNDWATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. “The sustainability of groundwater represents one of the major water challenges.”

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NEW MEXICO GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

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  1. NEW MEXICOGROUND WATER ASSOCIATION Why Test the Aquifers of New Mexico? January24,2009 W. Peter Balleau, Balleau Groundwater, Inc.

  2. CHALLENGES TO GROUNDWATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT • “The sustainability of groundwater represents one of the major water challenges.” • -3rd World Water Forum (2003) • “The problem of ground water mining represents a fundamental threat…” • -World Bank (1999) • “The country cannot sustain even the current levels of groundwater use…we must act to protect our rivers, springs, wetlands, lakes and estuaries from groundwater pumping.” • -Water Follies (R. Glennon, 2002) • “Water in the West:…the American West is facing a serious water crisis. In the long run, we do not have enough water to meet the West’s fast-growing needs.” • Barackobama.com (2008)

  3. DRY SEASON BASEFLOW FROM AQUIFER DISCHARGE SUM = 300,000 AFY AQUIFER YIELD 20,000 AFY = 6,000 AFY BLUEWATER = 5,000 AFY SAN FRANCISCO = 14,000 AFY 100,000 AFY TO 200,000 AFY = 80,000 AFY 80,000 AFY @ 0.25” GILA = 30,000 AFY Wells = 60,000 AFY MIMBRES = 2,000 AFY

  4. DRY SEASON BASEFLOW FROM AQUIFER DISCHARGE SUM = 300,000 AFY AQUIFER YIELD 20,000 AFY = 6,000 AFY BLUEWATER = 5,000 AFY SAN FRANCISCO = 14,000 AFY 100,000 AFY TO 200,000 AFY = 80,000 AFY 80,000 AFY @ 0.25” GILA = 30,000 AFY Wells = 60,000 AFY MIMBRES = 2,000 AFY

  5. NEW MEXICO AQUIFER DISCHARGE 1New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, 2008

  6. REGIONAL TREND EXAMPLE SANTA FE ESTANCIA

  7. AREAS OF AQUIFER DRAWDOWN Adapted from: USGS, 1972, New Mexico State Water Plan: Map Showing Observed Changes of Ground-Water Level and Hydrographs of Selected Wells in New Mexico.

  8. AREAS OF WELL DENSITY Wells

  9. TREND OF BASIN DRYING OUT

  10. ECOLOGICAL WATERS >5700 Miles of Perennial Streams > 4600 Springs An Estimated 100,000 to 200,000 AFY Riparian Loss (on top of baseflow 300,000 AFY)

  11. THE GROUNDWATER IMPACT PROBLEM + new water (temporary) How much to be reserved for ecological waters and downstream obligations, or taken for economic use?

  12. SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER Creates a managed, desirable groundwater condition regarding levels and chemistry. The “available groundwater resource” is the amount that also achieves ecological objectives and meets downstream obligations. Administering surface water rights does not result in sustainable groundwater development, (CU>net effect). The benefits of groundwater storage development need not be abandoned in the name of “sustainability”.

  13. WHY AQUIFER/PUMP TEST? Pick pump size and setting Decide cause of well problem: Aquifer? Screen? Pump? Subdivision approval on water availability Find effects on neighbors for permitting Find effects on own wellfield for management Aquifer characterization for system management or models

  14. Aquifer Properties Storage Coefficient Is Volume of Water Per Volume of Aquifer Drawdown (ranges 1 AF water per 10 to 100,000 AF cone volume) Transmissivity Is the flow in a 1-ft wide strip of aquifer (ranges 1000gpd to 100,000gpd per 1-ft strip, then adjusted for gradient)

  15. BENEFIT OF SHORT AND LONG TESTS Drawdown Data 1-Day Test Period (Plus information from recovery period)

  16. KINDS OF WELL TEST Well-development pump Step-test, multi-rate Short-term, 1-12 hours constant rate Longer-term, 1-10 days, rarely longer Observation wells Extended recovery Operational tests-more popular

  17. STEP TEST s = bQ + cQn (Jacob, 1947) - Not a Management Tool

  18. SUBDIVISION DOMESTIC WELL TEST Drill and install a properly-constructed domestic well on the subdivision site. Pump the well under controlled conditions at a rate of 5 to 20 gpm for 24 hours (or longer per County). Collect water-level recovery data for three days after the end of pumping. Calculate the radius of influence of the test and check if additional wells and tests are needed to get a representative sample of the subdivided area.

  19. Not quite full recovery Not quite stable drawdown Adapted From: USEPA, 1993, Groundwater Issue: Suggested Operating Procedures for Aquifer Pumping Tests, EPA/540/S-93/503.

  20. Pump test methods have not changed much

  21. OPTIMUM TIMES OF WATER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS FOR WELL AND AQUIFER TEST DATA

  22. Wier Box

  23. M-SCOPE

  24. Measuring Tube

  25. DRILLER TEST SETUP Rate control valve and meter Electric probe, steel-tape and chalk, or transducer Measuring tube Pretest data Recovery data twice as long as pump Water-sample kit from lab

  26. OPERATIONAL TESTING Install: Meter, recording Measuring tube (Required by Regulation) Transducer (pumping water level), recording

  27. MANAGEMENT BY TREND ANALYSIS SUSTAINABLE SWL PWL Pump Setting No Change = No Problem REGIONAL TREND Change in SWL = Aquifer LOSE EFFICIENCY Change in PWL = Well DEWATER SCREEN, FRACTURE OR PWBS Abrupt Change

  28. Well Tests by Drillers are Needed • To ensure well performance for the owner/user • Permitting • Data to help Manage and Operate aquifer, wetland, and surface water systems to maintain hydrologic conditions for ecological waters, downstream obligations, and economic use.

  29. “Water is fundamental for life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite to the realization of all other human rights”. (U.N. Committee on Economic Cultural and Social Rights)

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