ABBE PARAMELLE, 19TH CENTURY KARST HYDROGEOLOGIST

Jean-Baptiste Paramelle (1790-1875) developed a scientific method for finding groundwater. Between 1827 and 1854, he found groundwater at 10,275 locations throughout France. In 1856, he published a book entitled “L’Art de découvrir les sources” [The Art of Finding Springs] that describes his method. As a result of his success in 39 departments of France, Paramelle was more famous than Henry Darcy, the father of quantitative hydrogeology, whose book on Dijon’s public fountains was published in 1856. Paramelle’s methods remained central to French hydrogeology well into the 20^th century.

Abbé Paramelle, a country priest, began his research in 1818 when a parishioner asked for help in finding water. Finding little guidance in the literature of the day, Paramelle began to explore on foot the limestone plateaux (the “causses”) of the surrounding region (Lot). The causses lack surface drainage but are covered with sinkholes; this was obviously karst terrain but the word “karst” would not be introduced until 1893. By 1827, Paramelle had developed a theory based on his observation that sinkholes were often aligned in dry valleys and were associated with underground conduits where water flowed. He had observed water flowing into sinkholes and water spouting from sinkholes during rainstorms, and the sound of running water in sinkholes during non-rainy periods.

Subsidized by the local government, Paramelle began finding water for residents of the Department of Lot. His fame spread to neighboring departments and by the time he retired, he had “indicated” groundwater over about half of the surface of France. Most of his discoveries provided water for a rural residence, a few residences, or a village.

Paramelle played an important role in popularizing groundwater in France and his observations have been reviewed and confirmed by contemporary and later scientists. Henry Darcy sent a geologist into the field with Paramelle to evaluate his method and favorably reviewed Paramelle’s book in his 1856 publication. O.E. Meinzer translated and published Paramelle’s discussion of the use of plants as groundwater indicators and cites Paramelle as a leader of 19^th century groundwater research in France.