Analytical models of drawdown and boundary depletion rate in a leaky wedge shaped aquifer

This study presents analytical solutions of 3-dimensional groundwater flow to a well in leaky confined wedge shaped aquifers. Leaky wedge shaped aquifers with and without aquitard storage are considered for both transient and steady state drawdown solutions. The solutions are obtained by treating leakage as an upper boundary condition without using Hantush’s assumption. The leakage induced by a partially penetrating pumping well in a wedge shaped aquifer depends on aquitard hydraulic parameters, the wedge shaped-aquifer parameters as well as the pumping well parameters. Lateral boundary dimensionless flux is calculated at a representative line and its sensitivity to the aquitard hydraulic parameters is investigated. A type curve of steady dimensionless drawdown versus leakage parameter for different wedge nagles is also presented. The results are useful for evaluating the relative role of lateral wedge boundaries and leakage The results are useful for evaluating the relative role of lateral wedge boundaries and leakage source on flow in wedge shaped aquifers which is very important in water managements problem and groundwater pollution. The presented analytical solutions can also be used in parameter identification and calculating stream depletion rate and volume.

Keywords:

analytical solution , leaky wedge-shaped aquifer , stream depletion rate.