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Measuring Flow Rate in Crystalline Bedrock Wells Using the Dissolved Oxygen Alteration Method
Sarah A Vitale, Gary A Robbins1
1Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut, 1376 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT, 06269.
Ground Water
|March 23, 2017
Summary
The dissolved oxygen alteration method (DOAM) offers a low-cost way to measure vertical flow rates in bedrock wells. This technique accurately determines groundwater movement, aiding in water resource management.
Area of Science:
- Hydrogeology
- Environmental Science
- Water Resource Management
Background:
- Accurate vertical flow rate determination is crucial for hydraulic testing, water sampling, and interpreting water quality data in fractured bedrock wells.
- Traditional flowmeters, while accurate, present cost and logistical challenges for widespread use.
- Existing methods for assessing groundwater flow in bedrock wells are often expensive or complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To expand and validate the dissolved oxygen alteration method (DOAM) as a cost-effective alternative for measuring vertical flow rates in crystalline bedrock wells.
- To assess the applicability of DOAM under various conditions, including upward and downward flow, and during ambient and pumping states.
- To provide a reliable, low-cost tool for hydrogeological investigations.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized the dissolved oxygen alteration method (DOAM), involving the controlled alteration of dissolved oxygen levels in wellbore water via bubbler aeration.
- The vertical advective movement of altered dissolved oxygen concentrations was monitored over time to infer flow rates.
- Measurements were conducted in crystalline bedrock wells under both ambient and pumping conditions to capture a range of flow scenarios.
Main Results:
- The DOAM successfully measured vertical flow rates ranging from 0.06 to 2.30 liters per minute (Lpm).
- The method demonstrated accuracy, with flow rates determined by DOAM showing agreement within 2.5% of measured pump discharge rates.
- The study confirmed the method's effectiveness for both upward and downward vertical flow under different well conditions.
Conclusions:
- The dissolved oxygen alteration method (DOAM) is a validated, low-cost, and accurate technique for determining vertical flow rates in fractured bedrock wells.
- DOAM provides a practical alternative to expensive flowmeters, enhancing the feasibility of detailed hydrogeological assessments.
- This method improves the interpretation of water quality data and supports effective water resource management strategies.
