Steady groundwater flow in leaky multiple-aquifer systems

The hydraulic properties of stratified formations usually vary from layer to layer. Within the area of influence of a pumped well, drain, or section of a river, the subsoil can often be schematized into a limited number of aquifers each separated by less pervious layers. A general method has been developed for the analytical solution of steady flow problems in leaky multiple-aquifer systems comprising any number of aquifers. This method has been used to investigate potential distributions in multilayered aquifers of infinite extent, being pumped or recharged at a constant rate using completely penetrating wells and drains in one or more of the aquifers. The same approach is applicable to groundwater flow problems with more complicated boundary conditions, such as the influence of a wide river partially penetrating the leaky top-layer. The well flow solution has been applied to evaluate hydraulic properties of several aquifers and aquitards from pumping-tests in a six-layer leaky aquifer system. In a general sense the method presented may be regarded as a combined analytical-numerical technique.