Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Flow direction
Water table
Shallow aquifer
FIGURE 3.36
Example of gaining stream. (From Alley, W.M. et al., Sustainability of Groundwater Resources , United States
Geological Survey Circular 1186, Denver, CO, 1999.)
Flow direction
Unsaturated zone
Water table
FIGURE 3.37
Example of a losing stream. (From Alley, W.M. et al., Sustainability of Groundwater Resources , United States
Geological Survey Circular 1186, Denver, CO, 1999.)
Another stream interaction with groundwater is termed disconnected and occurs when
the surface water stream and groundwater are separated by the unsaturated or vadose
zone. This usually occurs when the sediments within the unsaturated zone beneath
the stream have a low hydraulic conductivity and impair significant communication
between the two. Another cause of this interaction is a lowering of the water table due to
drought or the local geology. Figure 3.38 shows an example of a disconnected scenario
Flow direction
Unsaturated zone
Water table
FIGURE 3.38
Example of a disconnection between surface water and groundwater.
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