INVOLVING UNDERGRADUATES IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER

Although the relationship between surface water and groundwater is becoming well understood, it is still not routinely measured in studies that involve surface and groundwater. This is an important component of water budget that is often overlooked. I have initiated a field area that is in use for the training of undergraduates, to examine the groundwater flow direction near a creek. The site is located along a creek, a tributary of St. Joseph River, near a wetland on the Indiana University - Purdue University (IPFW) campus.

Several holes (wells) (2 -12 feet depth) were dug near a creek and these wells are routinely used in our introductory geology labs and hydrogeology courses. Also, three 5-foot 2" ID PVC pipes are installed along the bank of the creek. Water temperature and water levels in the wells are monitored on a semi regular basis. The three 5-foot PVC pipes, 12-foot deep well, and the creek water levels are monitored for three months.

The deep PVC pipe (31" below ground level (BGL)) had a water level of 56 inches, the intermediate PVC pipe (27" BGL) has 43 inches of water and the shallowest (23" BGL) has 33 inches of water. The correlation (r) between the length of PVC BGL and water is very high (r =0.997) and this can be used to model the water level in PVC pipes with the depth. However, the correlation coefficient between the water level in the deepest PVC to the creek's water level is very low (r = 0.114). Water levels and temperature readings taken for the past three months suggest that we may be tapping two aquifers. The temperature within the 12-foot well varies from 6.2 to 9.5 oC; the 5-foot PVC pipes, a 0-6 oC range identical to the creek; and air temperature, -6 to 10 oC. Upwelling is observed during the monitoring period in the 12-foot well, implying a confined or semi-confined condition. Also, the water levels in the three PVC pipes show a groundwater discharge into the creek. The relationship between surface water and groundwater can be determined easily using simple three PVC pipes and this measurement should be done routinely in studies that involve rivers, lakes or wetlands. Teaching and involving undergraduates in the field would ensure that this simple and easy way to determine the relationship between surface water and groundwater will be carried out on a routine basis.