Determination of hydraulic parameters of an unconfined alluvial aquifer by the floodwave-response technique

Abstract

Groundwater constitutes a vital component of the water-resource system. Adequate knowledge of aquifer parameters is of utmost importance for proper groundwater management. In the present study, an attempt has been made to critically analyze the river–aquifer interaction and to explore the practicability and reliability of the floodwave-response technique in estimating the hydraulic parameters of the Konan aquifer, Japan. The analysis of the pertinent hydrologic and hydrogeologic data revealed a strong relationship between the Monobe River stage and the groundwater levels over a major portion of the Konan basin. Inverse modeling, using the floodwave-response model at four sites, yielded high values of hydraulic diffusivity that ranged from 16 to 194 m2/s. However, the overall average aquifer diffusivity was found to be reasonable (0.7–3.5 m2/s). All the selected flood events were not found suitable for determining reasonable values of hydraulic diffusivity at a given site. Using the optimal diffusivities at two sites and the aquifer transmissivity from the pumping tests at these sites, the storage coefficient values were estimated as those of truly confined aquifers. In contrast, reasonable values of storage coefficient were obtained based on the average aquifer diffusivity estimates. The sensitivity analysis of the floodwave-response model indicated that the optimal hydraulic diffusivity is very sensitive to the distance parameters of the model, which necessitate precise measurement of these parameters. It is concluded that a judicious application of the floodwave-response technique is essential, especially in the case of unconfined aquifers.