Page 19 - Hydrogeology Principles and Practice

HYDC01 12/5/05 5:44 PM Page 2

2 Chapter One

Fig. 1.1 The achievement of sustainable
groundwater development through the
balance of recharge inputs to aquifer
storage (the groundwater resource)
against discharge outputs for economic,
environmental and human (social)
benefits. After Hiscock et al. (2002).

resources and includes stream gauging methods, well Each chapter in this book concludes with recom-
hydraulics and tracer techniques. The protection of mended further reading to help extend the reader’s
groundwater from surface contamination requires knowledge of hydrogeology. In addition, for students
knowledge of solute transport processes and Chapter of hydrogeology, a set of discursive and numerical ex-
6 introduces the principles of contaminant hydro- ercises is provided in Appendix 10 to provide practice
geology. Chapter 6 also covers water quality criteria in solving groundwater problems. The remaining
and discusses the nature of contamination arising appendices include data and information in support
from a variety of urban, industrial and agricultural of the main chapters of this book and will be of wider
sources and in addition the causes and effects of saline application in Earth and environmental sciences.
intrusion in coastal regions. Following this Chapter 7
discusses methods of groundwater pollution remedi-
ation and protection, and includes sections that intro- 1.2 What is hydrogeology?
duce risk assessment methods and spatial planning
techniques. The final chapter, Chapter 8, returns to Typical definitions of hydrogeology emphasize the
the topic of catchment water resources and demon- occurrence, distribution, movement and geological
strates integrated methods for aquifer management interaction of water in the Earth’s crust. Hydrogeo-
together with consideration of groundwater interac- logy is an interdisciplinary subject and also encom-
tions with rivers and wetlands, as well as the potential passes aspects of hydrology. Hydrology has been
impacts of climate change on groundwater. defined as the study of the occurrence and movement