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An introduction to Groundwater in Crystalline Bedrock David Banks & Nick Robins

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Page 1: An introduction to Groundwater in Crystalline Bedrock · How to Get Groundwater out of the Ground ... about its potential as a water resource. Introduction. PAGE 6. PAGE 7 There are,

An introduction toGroundwater in CrystallineBedrock

David Banks & Nick Robins

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Norges geologiske undersøkelse

© 2002 Norges geologiske undersøkelse

Published byNorges geologiske undersøkelse(Geological Survey of Norway)N-7491 TrondheimNorway

All rights reserved

ISBN 82 7386 100 1

Editor: Rolv Dahl

Design and print: Grytting AS

Recommended bibliographical reference for this volume:Banks, D. and Robins, N. (2002): An introduction to Groundwater in Crystalline bedrockNorges geologiske undersøkelse, 64ppISBN 82 7386 100 1

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PAGE 1

An introduction toGroundwater in CrystallineBedrock

David Banks1, Nick Robins2

1 Geological Survey of Norway, N7491 Trondheim, Norway

(Current address:Holymoor Consultancy, 86 Holymoor Road, Holymoorside, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 7DX, United Kingdom).

2 British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford,Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.

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"Therefore a miner, since we think he ought to be a good and seriousman, should not make use of an enchanted twig, because if he is prudentand skilled in the natural signs, he understands that a forked twig is of nouse to him.....So if Nature or Chance should indicate a locality suitable formining, the miner should dig his trenches there; if no vein appears, hemust dig numerous trenches until he discovers an outcrop of a vein."

Agricola (1556). De Re Metallica.

PrologueDavid Banks

Having been employedwith the Thames WaterAuthority, the NationalRivers Authority and theUniversity of Sheffield inthe UK, David Banks workedfor six years with theSection for Geochemistryand Hydrogeology at NGU.

In 1998, he returned to Chesterfield in England, wherehe runs his own international "Holymoor Consultancy"business, through which he has gained hydro-geological experience from regions as diverse as theBolivian A ltiplano, Afghanistan and South Yorkshire.

Nick Robins

Dr Nick Robins works withthe British Geological Surveyat Wallingford in Oxfordshire.He has extensive experienceoverseas on hard rock hydro-geology and has also beenresponsible for promoting

interest in groundwater throughout Scotland andNorthern Ireland. Other interests include groundwater inChalk, in Quaternary deposits, mine water arisings andisland hydrogeology, as well as groundwater manage-ment.

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ContentsContents...........................................................................................................................................3

Introduction .....................................................................................................................................5

1. What is Groundwater in Crystalline Bedrock?................................................................................7

2. How to Get Groundwater out of the Ground ..................................................................................8

3. Well Drilling in Bedrock. Bingo, Poker or Chess ? ..........................................................................12

4. Where Should I Drill My Borehole?..............................................................................................15

5. Fracture Zones ..........................................................................................................................17

6. Superficial Deposits...................................................................................................................20

7. Fracture Mapping......................................................................................................................21

8. Geophysics................................................................................................................................23

9. Stress........................................................................................................................................26

10. Borehole Orientation .................................................................................................................27

11. Drilling .....................................................................................................................................28

12. Borehole Yield Stimulation ........................................................................................................31

13. Test Pumping ............................................................................................................................33

14. Water Quality............................................................................................................................38

15. Water Treatment .......................................................................................................................43

16. Vulnerability and Source Protection ...........................................................................................44

17. Maintenance & Rehabilitation ...................................................................................................47

18. Ground Source Heat...................................................................................................................49

19. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................52

20. References ................................................................................................................................53

21. Glossary....................................................................................................................................61

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Cover photos:

1. Shedding light on rock and water. Corbiere Lighthouse, Jersey, Channel Islands. Photo by Joe Bates.

2. Geologist Helge Skarphagen examines springs from gneisses exposed in a road cutting near Herefoss, southern Norway. Note that groundwater tends to emerge along the boundaries of pegmatites (light rocks).Photo by David Banks.See Figures 25a,b for locations of sites mentioned in the text.

3. Winter drilling, near Glasgow, Scotland.Photo by Nick Robins.

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This small book has a bigambition. It aims to presentpractical information and a little

philosophy to those involved in locatinggroundwater resources in areasunderlain by crystalline bedrock, that isto say:

• Private groundwater users, potential well owners and water bottlers

• Local authorities• Water companies and local water

supply undertakings• Drillers• and Consultants

Each of these users will inevitably havedifferent requirements and this volumemay be considered to be a "maximumversion", hoping to provide somethingfor everyone. We have consciouslymixed practical advice with somehydrogeological theory. Pick andchoose the parts that you find useful.We have also provided a comprehensivereference list for those of you who wishto delve further into the subject. Weaim to try to communicateScandinavian findings (often largelypublished in Nordic languages) to aninternational audience. A Norwegianversion of this book will be publishedlater.

Almost all of Norway (Figure 25b) isunderlain by some type of crystallinebedrock, and groundwater from suchrocks is an important drinking waterresource in rural areas, with over100,000 bedrock wells thought to existin a country with a population ofsomewhat over 4 million! In the UnitedKingdom, crystalline bedrockgroundwater is probably an underusedresource. Such rocks underlie much ofthe U.K.'s "Celtic Fringe" - Cornwall,Wales, Scotland and parts of NorthernIreland (see Figure 25a: Robins 1990,1996a,b, Robins and Misstear 2000), aswell as the Channel Islands (Robins &

Smedley 1994, Blackie et al. 1998). Anumber of small British communitiesare almost entirely dependent onbedrock groundwater, such as severalof the islands of Scilly (Banks et al.1998e), and such groundwater providesan attractive alternative resource forother communities with a currentlyunsatisfactory water supply (Ellingsen& Banks 1993).

Bedrock aquifers are also exploitedwidely in tropical climes; in much ofAfrica and India, for example. There,however, the hydrogeologicalconditions are very different. The rocksare deeply weathered and rainfallrecharge may be scarce. We will thuslargely, though not exclusively, restrictourselves to consideration of bedrockaquifers in the glaciated terrain ofNorway and the northern U.K., whererock outcrops are relatively fresh andwhere the quantity of precipitation isdepressingly abundant.

Groundwater in bedrock is a difficultresource to understand and pin down.It is very difficult to predict the yield orwater quality of a new borehole withany degree of certainty. It is, however,possible to quantify the chances ofbeing successful. We will attempt toguide you through the maze offractures and uncertainties comprisinga bedrock aquifer in such a way as toallow you to make an informed choiceabout its potential as a water resource.

Introduction

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There are, of course, two parts to thisquestion:

1.1 What is Groundwater?Groundwater is simply water thatoccurs in the ground; in the pore spacesbetween mineral grains or in cracks andfractures in the rock mass. It is usuallyformed by rain water or snow melt-water that seeps down through the soiland into the underlying rocks.Unfortunately, we have a very poorunderstanding of exactly whatproportion of rainfall ends up enteringa crystalline rock aquifer, althoughRobins & Smedley (1994), Blackie et al.(1998) and Olofsson (1993) shed somelight on the problem. Sometimes, wherea pumping well is close to a river orlake, a well may also "suck" river- orlake-water into the river banks and bed,so that it enters the adjacent sedimentsand rocks and becomes groundwater.

In recent sediments, such as sands orgravels, groundwater flows through themany pore spaces between sand grains.The permeability of the sediment isgoverned by the distribution of grainsizes in the sediment and the yield of awell in such deposits is relatively easy topredict.

1.2 What is crystalline bedrock ?When we use the term crystallinebedrock (or hard rock or bedrock) in thisbook we refer to igneous or metamor-phic rocks, such as granites, basalts,metaquartzites or gneisses, where theintergranular pore spaces are negligibleand where almost all groundwater flowtakes place through cracks and fracturesin the rocks.

As fractures are not homogeneouslydistributed in the rock mass, andbecause the permeability of the fracture

system is very sensitive to the fractureaperture and degree of fractureconnectivity, it is very difficult topredict the yield of a well or borehole incrystalline bedrock. To be successful, weneed to understand, as Agricolarecommended in 1556 (see Prologue)both Nature (in the guise of geology)and the element of Chance.

Further reading on groundwater:Banks & Banks (1993a), Domenico &Schwartz (1990), Downing (1998),Ellingsen (1992a), Ellingsen & Banks(1993), Fetter (1994), Grundfos (1988),ISIS (1990), Knutsson (2000), Lloyd(1999), Olsson (1979), Price (1996),Robins (1990, 1996a,b), Todd (1990).

Hydrogeological Maps ofGroundwater in Crystalline RockIn Norway:Ellingsen (1978), Rohr-Torp (1987).In Sweden: Maps for each county, ofwhich Karlqvist (1985) is an example.In the UK: BGS (1990)

1. What is Groundwater inCrystalline Bedrock?

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of boreholes in acrystalline bedrock aquifer (from Eckholdt & Snilsberg1992). Borehole 1 intersects a thrust fault betweengranite and gneiss and may thus have a good yield.Nevertheless, a stream receiving agricultural run-offruns along the fault outcrop, rendering the wellvulnerable to pollution. Borehole 2 is less vulnerablebut does not intersect a fracture zone and may thushave a lower yield. Borehole 3 is located up-gradientof polluting activities and intersects a fracture zone(expressed in the topography as a linear valley).

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2.1 SpringsUnder natural conditions, groundwaterflows from regions of high groundwaterhead to low groundwater head. Inpractice, this usually means, from areasof high topography to the coast or toriver valleys. Because rainfall is enteringthe bedrock aquifer, groundwater has tocome out somewhere. Very often itemerges as springs in low-lying areas,which springs typically drain intostreams or to the sea. Alternatively,groundwater may discharge directlyinto the bed of a stream. In either case,this groundwater baseflow maintainssome degree of flow in the streamsduring prolonged dry weather.

Groundwater flow generally followsthe gradient of the water table. This isessentially the surface separating water-saturated from unsaturated rocks. Inother words, it is the level of water inthe huge natural storage tank that anaquifer represents. In crystalline

bedrock of low permeability, the watertable reflects a subdued version of thenatural topography. A spring dischargearea can be thought of as a locationwhere the water table intersects groundlevel.

Springs have historically beenimportant water supplies. Very oftenthey have been excavated, lined withtimber, brick or stone and maybecovered by a roof or small house toform a well that is protected fromcontamination by surface run-off andanimals. Today, they can still be idealwater supplies, provided that the land-use in the surrounding area is such thatit does not contaminate the spring.

2.2 Wells and boreholesUnfortunately, springs only occur at thewhim of nature and topography. While,in historic times, "Mohammed hascome to the mountain" and people havesettled around springs, more recent

Figure 2. (a) A spring from Precambrian Hecla Hoekmarbles, Bockfjord, Svalbard (photo: David Banks).

2. How to Get Groundwaterout of the Ground

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settlements have grown up in areasdevoid of springs and it has beennecessary to use technology to accessthe water table.

In many rocks (e.g. the Chalk ofsouthern England), wells may be dug toconsiderable depths to reach the watertable, but this is not possible in the hardcrystalline rocks we are considering. Inhard rock terrain, dug wells are at bestdug down through superficial soils andsediments to reach a bedrock spring, orare excavated to a few metres depth bythe judicious use of explosives.

In crystalline bedrock it is normal todrill a narrow (e.g. 150 mm diameter)borehole to several tens of metres depthbelow the water table. A pump maythen be installed in the borehole. As itpumps out water, the water level in theborehole is depressed, lowering thegroundwater head in the adjacent

Figure 2. (b) The Maharajah's Well, Stoke Row U.K. Adeep dug well in the Chalk, donated to the drought-stricken villagers of the Chilterns by the Maharajah ofBenares (photo: David Banks).

Figure 2. (c) an artesian (overflowing) borehole inCarboniferous rocks at Catcraig, near Dunbar, Scotland.The photo features the geologist C.T. Clough andderives from c. 1908 (after Robins 1990). Printed withpermission from British Geological Survey.

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Figure 2. (d) A modern, angled borehole in granite, Hvaler Islands, Norway (photo: David Banks).

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aquifer. This causes groundwater flowto be induced towards the borehole andalters the natural groundwater flow andwater balance in the aquifer. Providedwe do not try to take too much water,the aquifer will settle down to a newdynamic equilibrium situation. Thisequilibrium will govern the long-termyield of the borehole. Usually, the longterm yield is somewhat lower that theyield initially estimated by drillers onthe basis of short-term testing, becausein the latter case, the aquifer has nothad time to reach its new equilibrium.

Further reading on springprotection, groundwater abstractionand borehole drillingClark (1988), Commonwealth ScienceCouncil (1987), Lloyd (1999), Skjeseth(1955), Waterlines, UNESCO (1984).

Figure 3. Groundwater flow in the vicinity of apumped borehole, RWT = rest water table beforepumping, PWT = water table during pumping (afterBanks 1992d, printed with permission from BlackwellScience Ltd.).

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It is tempting to regard well-drilling inbedrock as a game where the prize is ahigh quality, cheap water supply. But isit a game like chess, where a geologist'sskill and knowledge can find the rightborehole location and drilling strategy,or is it like bingo, where the outcome issolely determined by a randomselection of unpredictable numbers?Most hydrogeologists would probablymake a comparison with poker, whichis mostly determined by a blindselection of random cards, but where asensible playing strategy can increaseour chances of success. And likehardened card-sharps, many profes-sional hydrogeologists and water-witches have expended considerableeffort in building up a reputation andbluffing that their "infallible systems"

can overcome the random element.You, as customers and well-drillers,should treat such claims with greatcaution. Well drilling in bedrock alwaysbears a greater or lesser risk: what wehydrogeologists can do is estimate thatrisk and quantify your chances ofsuccess.

3.1 Yield distribution curvesIf we examine a particular rock type,such as the Iddefjord Granite ofsouthern Norway, we can take the yieldsof all the boreholes in the granite andplot them on a cumulative probabilitydiagram, such as that in Figure 4. Fromsuch a diagram, we can see that themedian yield is 600 l/hr (follow the redline horizontally from the 50% mark tothe curve for the Iddefjord Granite, and

3. Well Drilling in Bedrock.Bingo, Poker or Chess?

Figure 4. Cumulative frequency diagram showing yielddistribution curves for Norwegian wells in theIddefjord Granite ("Iddefjord"), Cambro-Silurianmetasediments of the Norwegian Caledonian terrain("Cambro-Silurian") and Precambrian gneisses("Precambrian").The added purple guide-line showsthe approximate 10% yield for most lithologies (i.e.90% of wells yield better than this figure).The red andorange guide-lines show the median yield (50%, red)and the 72% yield (orange) for the Iddefjord Granite.(Figure prepared by Geir Morland, using data from histhesis of 1997).

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then vertically down to where it meetsthe x-axis at 600 l/hr). For a well drilledrandomly in the granite, there is thus a50% chance that a yield of 600 l/hr willbe achieved. Similarly, we can assess the25 % or 75 % yields. Or if, we wish toobtain 1200 l/hr we can see (byfollowing the orange line vertically upfrom the 1200 l/hr mark to theIddefjord Granite curve, and thenhorizontally across) that we have a 72 %chance of not achieving this amount(28 % chance of achieving it).

However, different rock types havedifferent yield distribution curves. Forexample, Caledonian slates and schistsof Norway have a lower yield distri-bution. This is because permeability isdetermined by fracture aperture, whichis, in turn, governed by the rock'sgeomechanical properties. In fact,theory can show that a single fracture of 1 mm aperture can transmit morewater than 900 planar, parallel fracturesof 0.1 mm aperture (the transmissivityof such fractures is proportional to thecube of the aperture). Brittle, hardrocks, such as granite, are better able tosustain fractures with wide aperturesthan soft, deformable rocks, such asshales and slates.

A word of caution, however. Theconstruction of such yield distributioncurves pre-supposes the existence of anadequately comprehensive well data-base (data for the UK, for example, arenot good enough to be used for thispurpose). The yields submitted bydrillers to such databases are often short-term yields. The sustainable, long-termyields may be considerably less.Additionally, dry boreholes may nothave been reported at all, so inducing apositive spin to the statistics. It is alsoimportant also to know whether suchdatabases include wells whose yield hasartificially been stimulated by explo-sives or hydraulic fracturing (seeChapter 12).

3.2 Dowsers and Water-WitchesIn hard-rock terrain, whether it be inNigeria, Norway or Cornwall, dowsersare very often used to locate under-

ground water and often seem to achievesimilar results to hydrogeo-logists (seeText Boxes 1 and 2). The authors wouldventure to argue that this is not becauseof special prowess on behalf of thedowser, but often because of lackinginsight on the part of the hydrogeo-logist. Dowsers will often try to locatewater using forked twigs, bent clotheshangers, German sausages or pendula(Figure 5). Some may even ply theirskills in the office over a map, withoutventuring into the terrain. The mosthonest dowsers will admit that it isdifficult to conceive of a physicalexplanation for dowsing and that theirskill is purely "spiritual". Agricola (1556)tells us that, "..wizards, who also makeuse of rings, mirrors and crystals, seekfor veins with a divining rod shaped like a fork; but its shape makes nodifference... for it is not the form of thetwig that matters, but the wizard'sincantations which it would notbecome me to repeat". It is likely thatcustomers use dowsers for threereasons:

(i) They are cheaper than hydrogeologists

(ii) The subject of groundwater is difficult to understand and has always been associated with magic and mysticism – see Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(iii) In a field where the uncertainty ofthe result is so great, people feel drawn to mystical, rather than scientific, methods.

Nevertheless, some dowsers often seemto enjoy considerable success (althoughothers, in the authors' experience, havecost their clients large sums of money).Why should this be so ? We offer twoexplanations:

(i) Most dowsers work for domestic clients where the water demand is only maybe 100 l/hr (most people use 300-400 l water every day).From Fig. 4, it will be seen that there is usually a c. 90 % chance ofachieving this yield wherever one drills (follow the purple line from the 10% mark).

Figure 5.Three subtle and esoteric implements of theHermetic art of dowsing: (a) the Knackwurst (orGerman Sausage); (b) the Liechtputze (or candletrimmer); (c) the Schneiderscheer (the tailor'sscissors) (from Zeidler 1700, reproduced in Prokop &Wimmer 1985).

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(ii) Most dowsers operate in a geo--graphically limited area. They get to know their terrain and gain an instinctive (often subconscious) feel for how the hydrogeology ofthe area functions.

Dowsers can, however, create and per-petuate grave misconceptions. On theChannel Island of Jersey, for instance,rainfall on the Pyrenees is reputed toflow underground and beneath the Bayof Biscay to rise up onto Jersey to dis-charge as springs 200 m above sea level.This is an improbable situation giventhe abundance of local rainfall and localrecharge and the friction (or head loss)in driving the water underground allthe way from the Pyrenees!

Our advice: for small domestic supplies,the best person to site a borehole isoften a local well driller. He usually hasa reasonable hydrogeologicalunderstanding and is able to assess thelogistical and well-head protectionfactors that maybe far more importantthan the merely geological. For largersupplies, use the services of ahydrogeologist with experience of hardrock terrains.

Further Reading on Dowsing andWell Yield StatisticsAgricola (1556), Banks (1998),Henriksen (1995), Knutsson (2000),Morland (1997), Persson et al. (1985),Prokop & Wimmer(1985), USGS(1993), Wladis & Gustafson (1999).

The Unacceptable Face of Dowsing

While we would argue that many dowsers are honest and have a good intuitive understanding of groundwater, a few dowsers can cause great distress to theirclients. A Norwegian dowser is cited in the newspaper "Agder" (20/4/90) as saying (in English translation):

"The dowsing twig is on the way out, many say.The reason is supposedly that there is no scientific evidence for its many uses. In my opinion, that is utterrubbish....Hundreds of years before we began drilling boreholes, we used the forked twig to find water....No, the dowsing rod is by no means outdated."

Fair enough, one might say, but now things become macabre:

"the dowsing rod can be used .....to find all sorts of radiation. One thing's for sure. Many people have back problems due to "veins of water", which run under theirhouse.The radiation from these can be drawn away by cheap and effective means."

Luckily, the solution to such problems does not involve digging up the foundations of the house to find the offending fracture. A simple "radiation damper" canbe placed under the bed ! One may find such psychobabble amusing, but for some it is definitely not a joke. One of the authors was contacted in the UK by adistraught woman several years ago, whose husband was suffering a serious illness. In desparation, she turned to a dowser who told her that the illness wascaused by a "groundwater vortex" beneath the property. So, as well as her uncertainty and distress over her husband's health, she now was being asked toconsider moving house or some serious engineering geology. Our advice to you is the same at that we gave to her - "Stay away from such practicioners andtrust your doctor. Dowsing and medicine do NOT mix".

Water Divining in Kosova

Our colleague Habib Meholli tells us about the following methods for locating groundwater inKosova.

Method 1: First catch your chicken. Remove its head with an axe. Let the headless chicken run around for a few minutes and where it falls motionless, dig your well.

Method 2: Provide your horse with salty feed.The horse will soon become thirsty. It will start looking around for water or damp soil.The place where it starts pawing the ground with its hooves may be a good place to dig a well, as groundwater is likely to be close to the surface.

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The location of a borehole should takeinto account at least three factors:

(i) Logistical factors, including access(ii) Vulnerability factors(iii) Geological factors

For small domestic supplies, where it ispossible to drill a well with satisfactoryyield almost anywhere, the first twofactors are likely to be paramount. Forlarger supplies, where the yield of thewell is critical, finding a sensiblegeological location becomesincreasingly important.

Logistics and access prevent a numberof sources from being developed. In theNorth-Western Highlands of Scotland,the Precambrian limestones of theDurness and Assynt areas offer karstconditions and the prospects of high-yielding groundwater sources. These arelittle used simply because few peoplelive in these areas.

4.1 Logistical FactorsIt is necessary to consider:

• proximity of the borehole to the point of use, or

• proximity of the borehole to an existing water distribution network

• availability of a power supply for the pump.

• ease of access for a drilling rig.

4.2 Vulnerability FactorsHere, one should consider potentialsources of pollution; the boreholeshould not be located in the immediatevicinity of:

• sewerage pipes, which may leak.• pit latrines, cesspits, septic tanks,

leaking tight tanks • unbunded oil or paraffin storage

tanks

• land subject to intensive use oforganic or inorganic fertilisers,pesticides or other chemicals

• surface waters, particularly those known to be bacterially (or otherwise) contaminated

• the sea.

If possible, boreholes should be locatedat least 50 m (and preferably more,depending on aquifer characteristicsand yield) up any topographicalgradient from the above, or any otherforms of contaminative human activity.In the case of surface waters, thelocation of a borehole will always be acompromise between the hydraulicadvantages that location near a river orlake can offer (a plentiful source ofgroundwater recharge) and thedisadvantages in terms of vulnerabilityto pollution.

Where an aquifer is covered by asignificant thickness of low-permeability materials (e.g. boulderclay), less stringent conditions mayapply to locating a borehole near topotential contaminant sources. Thereshould be a presumption against such alocation, however, unless it can beclearly demonstrated that the coveroffers adequate protection.

It should be noted that the concept ofsource vulnerability also applies toexisting surface water sources (eg. riveror stream intakes). It is often these that,due to their vulnerability to pollution,need to be replaced by newgroundwater sources. Care needs to betaken to ensure that the newgroundwater well does not draw on thesurface water, unless a sufficientresidence time and "filtration effect" arepresent to ensure that water quality issafeguarded. Some fluvial sand andgravel deposits act as efficient water

4. Where Should I Drill MyBorehole?

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purifiers, however, and peat-stainedriver water may appear as crystal clear"bank infiltration" in a well only 5 mfrom the bank of the river (a fact nowbeing exploited in the replacement ofrural village supplies in Scotland,wherever peat stained surface watersupplies existed and which are nowoutlawed by current EC legislation).Note, however, that appearances may bedeceptive, and thorough chemical,bacteriological and hydraulic testingmay be necessary before a source can beapproved for supply. Fractured bedrockdoes not necessarily have these samepowers of attenuation and purificationand riverside boreholes into bedrockexposures should be avoided unlesswater treatment is available.

4.3 Geological FactorsAs previously explained, the hydrogeo-logical factors influencing well yield canbe difficult to predict. Ideally one wishesa borehole to intersect one or more

fractures of high groundwater trans-missivity, which also are interconnectedwith a wider system of fractures or withsuperficial deposits that provide adequategroundwater storage. Most hydrogeo-logists agree that it is sensible to target:

• zones of intense fracturing. Thesemay be vertical, horizontal or with anintermediate dip and are generallyreferred to simply as fracture zones.

• areas with a moderate (2-5 m thick)cover of superficial deposits (e.g.moraine). These deposits confer adegree of protection to theunderlying bedrock groundwater, andmay also act as a reservoir for water.The superficial deposits should not betoo thick though - they areconsiderably more costly to drillthrough than the bedrock itself.

Further Reading on Well LocationRobins & Ball (1998).