Groundwater Movement

Movement occurs from higher hydraulic head in recharge areas (natural or artificial), where precipitation is generally higher, to discharge areas of lower hydraulic head (wells, springs, rivers, lakes, and wetlands). (dh in Figure.1.). The reason is Gravity. Gravity is driving force that moves groundwater. The quantity of groundwater movement through porous media is controlled by Darcy’s law. 

Figure.1.

Schematic of Darcy’s law showing change in head (dh) over the flow path length (dl) and the area perpendicular to flow (aquifer width times thickness (b) for horizontal flow).

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