Ground-Water in Virginia

George HarlowU.S. Geological Survey

1730 E. Parham RdRichmond, VA 23228

804-261-2630

The Hydrologic Cycle

Ground-Water Use in the United States

34

Ground-Water-Flow System (Natural Conditions)

Direction and Rate of Ground-Water Movement

Ground-water pumpage terms

Aquifer Material

Sand

Shell material

Crystallinerock

Sedimentaryrock

Carbonates

Coal

Wells

Physiographic Provinces of Virginia

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Mesozoic Lowlands

Blue Ridge

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Mesozoic Lowlands

Blue Ridge

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

Hydrogeology of the Appalachian Plateau

NOT TO SCALE

Colluvium and Alluvium

Weathered Bedrock

Siltstone or Shale

Sandstone

Coal Seam

Generalized Ground-Water Flow Path

Younger Ground Water

Older Ground Water

Mixture of Younger and OlderGround Water

Geology

Modified from Harlow and LeCain, 1991

NOT TO SCALE

Colluvium and Alluvium

Weathered Bedrock

Siltstone or Shale

Sandstone

Coal Seam

Generalized Ground-Water Flow Path

Younger Ground Water

Older Ground Water

Mixture of Younger and OlderGround Water

Geology

Modified from Harlow and LeCain, 1991

NOT TO SCALE

Colluvium and Alluvium

Weathered Bedrock

Siltstone or Shale

Sandstone

Coal Seam

Generalized Ground-Water Flow Path

Younger Ground Water

Older Ground Water

Mixture of Younger and OlderGround Water

Geology

Modified from Harlow and LeCain, 1991

SPRING

FRACTURES

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Mesozoic Lowlands

Blue Ridge

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

Hydrogeology of the Valley and Ridge

WestWest EastEast

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From: Harlow, G.E., Jr., Orndorff, R.C., Nelms, D.L., Weary, D.J., and Moberg, R.M., U. S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5161, p. 30.

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Mesozoic Lowlands

Blue Ridge

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

Hydrogeology of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Mesozoic Lowlands

Blue Ridge

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

http://www.hydro.geos.vt.edu/

Fractured rock aquifers

Crystalline rock aquifersCarbonate rock aquifers

Evidence of Water Flow in Fractures

Coastal Plain

Coastal Plain

Piedmont

Mesozoic Lowlands

Blue Ridge

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

Ground-Water Monitoring Network for Virginia

What is an artesian well?

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesprings.html

Recharge area for artesian aquifer

Artesian well

Piezometric level

Water table well

Flowing artesian well

Stream

GEOLOGICALLY-CONTROLLED FLOWING WELL

Ground surface

TOPOGRAPHICALLY – CONTROLLED FLOWING WELLUnconfined aquifer condition

www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-wb-dwehs-wcu-drillingpluggingflowingwells_209019_7.ppt

Resources

• USGS, WRD, Virginia District http://va.water.usgs.gov/

• USGS, WRD, Office of Ground Waterhttp://water.usgs.gov/ogw/

• VA Household Water Quality Programwww.wellwater.bse.vt.edu