04/21/23 1

Water Cycle and WatershedsWater Cycle and Watersheds

Mr. Brian Oram, PG Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller

Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality

Wilkes University

GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department

Wilkes Barre, PA 18766

http://www.wilkes.eduhttp://www.water-research.net

04/21/23 2

Center for Environmental QualityCenter for Environmental Quality

Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and

managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and

Engineering Department

Outreach Programs Environmental and Professional Education and Training Applied Research Community and Business Outreach Programs

Website: http://www.water-research.net

04/21/23 3

The The Water Water CycleCycle

04/21/23 4

Components of the Water Cycle

First The InsSolar Energy Input

PrecipitationCondensationWell Injection

Irrigation

The OutsEvaporation

TranspirationInfiltrationPercolation

RunoffGroundwater FlowSurfacewater Flow

Well Pumping

water cyclewater cycle

04/21/23 5

The Water CycleThe Water CyclePowered by the Sun- Solar PowerPowered by the Sun- Solar Power

04/21/23 6

PrecipitationPrecipitationTypes of Precipitation

NaturalRainSnow

IceHail

Condensation/ Dew

Man-MadeIrrigation

Wastewater Applications

04/21/23 7

InterceptionInterceptionInfiltration / PercolationInfiltration / Percolation

Canopy Interception

Percolation

Infiltration

Infiltration- Movement Water Into Soil

Percolation - Water Movement Throughthe Soil

04/21/23 8

Evaporation / TranspirationEvaporation / TranspirationEvapotranspirationEvapotranspiration

Evaporation- Driven by Thermal Gradient and Moisture Difference

Stomata

04/21/23 9

Runoff / Overland FlowRunoff / Overland Flow

When Rainfall Rate Exceeds Infiltration Runoff is Generated

Low Infiltration Causes - Overland Flow- Loss

Organic Material

Uncontrolled RunoffCauses Erosion

04/21/23 10

GroundwaterGroundwaterZone of SaturationZone of Saturation

04/21/23 11

Primary Aquifers in PAPrimary Aquifers in PA

04/21/23 12

Well GeologyWell Geology

04/21/23 13

Groundwater Flow Groundwater Flow and Aquifersand Aquifers

ConfinedAquifer

UnconfinedAquifer

04/21/23 14

Surface Water & GroundwaterSurface Water & Groundwater

They Are Related and Connected !They Are Related and Connected !

Local Water Divide

04/21/23 15

Groundwater Moves - SlowlyGroundwater Moves - Slowlyfeet per yearfeet per year

04/21/23 16

Induced Recharge Induced Recharge or Artificial Dischargeor Artificial Discharge

Pumping Well - Artificial DischargeArtificial Recharge- Septic Systems

04/21/23 17

What is a Watershed?What is a Watershed?

The simple definitionIt's the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater.

Right Now You’re Sitting In a Watershed !

They cross county, state, and national boundaries(This is the challenge !)

04/21/23 18

Watershed MapWatershed Map

04/21/23 19

Watershed ViewWatershed View

04/21/23 20

Non Point Source PollutionNon Point Source Pollution

Non-point source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources.

NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water.

04/21/23 21

Sources of Non-Point Sources of Non-Point PollutionPollution

Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;

Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals;

Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;

Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, urban runoff and faulty septic systems; and

Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of non-point source pollution.

We are Still the Largest Source of Oil Pollution to the Environment !

04/21/23 22

Sources of PollutionSources of PollutionCauses of Contamination

Improper Waste Disposal

Improper Well Construction

Poor Site Selection

Wells Not Properly Abandoned

Improper Waste Storage

Lack of Information on

Hazardous Sites or Activities

(Partial Listing)

04/21/23 23

Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves

1. Which ways can groundwater move?a. Upb. Downc. Sidewaysd. All of the above

1. d. All of the aboveAlthough most movement is lateral (sideways), it can move straight up or down. Groundwater simply follows the path of least resistance by moving from higher pressure zones to lower pressure zones.

04/21/23 24

Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves2. How is the speed of groundwater movement measured?a. Feet per dayb. Feet per weekc. Feet per monthd. Feet per year

2. d. Feet per yearGroundwater movement is usually measured in feet per year. This is why a pollutant that enters groundwater requires many years before it purifies itself or is carried to a monitored well.

04/21/23 25

Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves3. How is stream flow usually measured?a. Feet per secondb. Feet per minutec. Feet per hourd. Yards per hour

3. a. Feet per secondWater flow in streams/rivers is measured in feet per second.

04/21/23 26

Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves4. What determines how fast groundwater moves?a. Temperatureb. Air pressurec. Depth of water tabled. Size of materials

4. d. Size of materialsCoarse materials like sand and gravel allow water to move rapidly. (They also form excellent aquifers because of their holding capacity.) In contrast, fine-grained materials, like clay or shale, are very difficult for water to move through. Thus, water moves very, very slowly in these materials.

04/21/23 27

Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves5. Can the water table elevation change often?a. Yesb. No

5. a. YesWater table elevations often fluctuate because of recharge and discharge variations. They generally peak in the winter and spring due to recharge from rains and snow melt. Throughout the summer the water table commonly declines due to evaporation, uptake by plants (transpiration), increased public use, industrial use, and crop, golf course and lawn irrigation. Elevations commonly reach their lowest point in early fall.

04/21/23 28

Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves

6. Does aquifer storage capacity vary?a. Yesb. No

6. a. YesJust like the water level in rivers and streams, the amount of water in the groundwater supply can vary due to seasonal, weather, use and other factors.

04/21/23 29

Water Cycle and WatershedsWater Cycle and Watersheds

Mr. Brian Oram, PG Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller

Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality

Wilkes University

GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department

Wilkes Barre, PA 18766

http://www.wilkes.eduhttp://www.water-research.net