Irrigation Sciences and Engineering

Irrigation Sciences and Engineering

Estimation of Transmissivity and Storage Coefficients in a Dual-Aquifer System Using Combined Field and Analytical Methods

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 PhD Student, Department of Water Engineeribg, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology
2 Department of Water Engineeribg, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology.
Abstract
This study investigates the hydrodynamic coefficients of the Kouhpayeh-Segzi (KSA) aquifer, a vital groundwater resource in Isfahan province in central Iran, located in an arid to semi-arid climate, where surface water is unreliable. The research addresses the increasing dependence on groundwater in the region, driven by population growth, agricultural expansion, and industrial development, which has led to over-extraction, groundwater table depletion, reduced well yields, and land subsidence. The main objective is to accurately estimate the parameters of hydrodynamic coefficients—transmissivity coefficient and storage —essential for sustainable groundwater management. Traditional pumping tests, although standard, are costly and limited by practical constraints, especially in deep or data-poor environments. To overcome these challenges, this study integrates multiple data sources, including grain-size distribution analysis, well drilling logs, geophysical surveys, and exploratory and observational well data. The approach involves re-analyzing pumping test data, determining alluvium thickness, bedrock elevation, and consequently preparing maps of the transmissivity and storage for the aquifer. The studied aquifer has two types of aquifers: confined and unconfined. The results show that the average values of hydrodynamic coefficients such as the transmissivity and storage of the KSA unconfined aquifer are estimated to be 960 m2/day and 3.9% and the transmissivity unconfined aquifer is estimated to be 914 m2/day, respectively. The findings emphasize the necessity of continuous monitoring, adaptive management, and the use of advanced analytical and geophysical techniques to ensure the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in the KSA region.
Keywords
Subjects

1- Ansarifar, M., Salarijazi, M., Ghorbani, K.  and Kaboli, A., 2019. Spatial estimation of aquifer’s hydraulic parameters by a combination of borehole data and inverse solution. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. DOI:10.1007/s10064-019-01616-w
 
2- Batu, V., 1998. Aquifer Hydraulics: A Comprehensive Guide to Hydrogeologic Data Analysis. Wiley, New York.
 
3- Bashandy, A.M., Bekhit, H.M. and Radwan, H.G., 2024. Uncertainty assessment of aquifer hydraulic parameters from pumping test data. Appl Water Sci, 14(84).  DOI: 10.1007/s13201-024-02134-1
 
4- Benson, D.A., 2023. Automated Estimation of Aquifer Parameters from Arbitrary‐Rate Pumping Tests in Python and MATLAB. Groundwater, 62 (2), pp. 285-294. DOI: 10.1111/gwat.13338
 
5- Beven, K., 2001. Rainfall-Runoff Modelling: The Primer. Wiley.
 
6- Bouwer, H. and Rice, R.C., 1976. Slug test for determining hydraulic conductivity of unconfined aquifers with completely or partially penetrating wells. Water Resources Research, 12(3), pp.423–42.
 
7- Cooper, H.H. and Jacob, C.E., 1946. A generalized graphical method for evaluating formation constants and summarizing well-field history. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 27, 526-534.
 
8- Dana, K. M. and Jwan, S. M., 2016. Performing Pumping Test Data Analysis Applying Cooper-Jacob’s Method for Estimating of the Aquifer Parameters. Mathematical Modelling in Civil Engineering, 12(1), pp.9-20. DOI: 10.1515/mmce-2016-000
 
9- Domenico, P.A. and Schwartz, F.W., 1990. Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology. Wiley.
 
10- Fetter, C.W., 2001. Applied Hydrogeology (4th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0130882394.
 
11- Gong, C., Zhang, Z., Wang, W., Duan, L. and Wang, Z., 2021. An assessment of different methods to determine specific yield for estimating groundwater recharge using lysimeters. Science of The Total Environment, 788, pp.147799.  DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147799
 
12- Houben, T., Pujades, E., Kalbacher, T., Dietrich, P. and Attinger, S., 2022. From Dynamic Groundwater Level Measurements to Regional Aquifer Parameters— Assessing the Power of Spectral Analysis. Water Resources Research, 58, pp. DOI: 10.1029/2021WR031289
 
13- Hvorslev, M.J., 1951. Time lag and soil permeability in groundwater observations. Waterways Experiment Station, Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Bulletin 36.
 
14- Kruseman, G. P. and de Ridder, N.A., 1990. Analysis and Evaluation of Pumping Test Data. International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
 
15- Li, M., Wang, H., Gu, H. and Chi, B., 2025. Weighted joint curve inversion of aquifer parameters in pumping tests with multiple observation wells. Desalination and Water Treatment. 321, 101040.  DOI:10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101040
 
16- Li, M., Liang, X., Xiao, C., Cao, Y. and Hu, S., 2019. Hadrochemical Evolution of Groundwater in a Typical Semi-Arid Groundwater Storage Basin Using a Zoning Model. Water, 11, 1334. DOI: 10.3390/w11071334
 
17- Li, P. and Qian, H., 2012. Global curve-fitting for determining the hydrogeological parameters of leaky confined aquifers by transient flow pumping test. Arab J Geosci, 6, pp.2745–2753. DOI: 10.1007/s12517-012-0567-9
 
18- Li, Y., Xie, W., Wang, H., Peng, B., Xiong, F. and Zhu, C., 2023a. Hydrogeological Parameter Estimation of Confined Aquifer within a Rectangular Shaped Drop Waterproof Curtain. Water, 15, 356. doi:  DOI: 10.3390/w15020356
 
19- Li, Y., Zhou, Z., Zhuang, C. and Dou, Z., 2023b. Estimating Hydraulic Parameters of Aquifers Using Type Curve Analysis of Pumping Tests with Piecewise-Constant Rates. Water, 15(9), pp.1661. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091661
 
20- Lohman, S.W., 1972. Ground-Water Hydraulics. U.S. Geological Survey Professional. pp 708.
 
21- Mace, R.E., 2001. Estimating transmissivity using specific-capacity data. Geological Circular 01-2Affiliation: Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin.
 
22- Molz, F.J., Melville, J.G. and Johnson, M.M., 1989. Using flowmeter logs to quantify vertical flow variations in wells. GroundWater, 27(5), pp.631–638.
 
23- Muauz, A., Behailu, B. and Bediru, H., 2024. Application of surface geophysical investigations and pumping test data analysis for better characterization of aquifer hydraulic parameters, Upper Awash Sub-Basin, Central Ethiopia. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 55, 101933. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2024.101933
 
24- Neuman, S.P., 1975. Analysis of pumping test data from anisotropic unconfined aquifers considering delayed gravity response. Water Resources Research, 11(2), pp.329-342.
25- Paillet, F. L., 2000. Hydraulic conductivity estimation from borehole flow and thermal logs. Ground Water, 38(6), pp.885–894.
 
26- Pasandi, M., Samani, N. and Barry, D.A., 2007. Effect of wellbore storage and finite thickness skin on flow to a partially penetrating well in a phreatic aquifer. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 63(1), 27-38. DOI: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2007.09.003
 
27- Quinn, P., Cherry, J.A. and Parker, B.L., 2015. Combined use of straddle packer testing and FLUTe profiling for hydraulic testing in fractured rock boreholes. Journal of Hydrology, 524, pp. 439-454.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.03.008
 
28- Rackley, S., 2017. 15 - Hydrological and environmental features, events, and processes. Carbon Capture and Storage (Second Edition). pp 387-406.  DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-812041-5.00015-5
 
29- Ramsahoye, L.E. and Lang, S.M., 1961. A Simple Method for Determining Specific Yield from Pumping Tests.
 
31- Remson, I.  and Lang, S.M., 1955. A pumping-test method for the determination of specific yield. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 36(2), pp.321-325.
 
32- Sahranavard, H., Mohtashami, A., Mohtashami, E. and Akbarpour, A., 2023. Inverse modeling application for aquifer parameters estimation using a precise simulation–optimization model. Applied Water Science, pp. 1-12.  DOI: 10.1007/s13201-022-01864-4
 
33- Singh, S. and Tripura, J., 2022. Pumping test analysis for assessment of hydraulic parameters and aquifer system formation in hilly terrain. Water Practice & Technology, 00 (0), pp.1-11. DOI: 10.2166/wpt.2022.002
 
34- Soil Survey Staff., 1993. Soil Survey Manual. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Handbook 18.
 
35- Theis, C.V., 1935. The relation between the lowering of the piezometric surface and the rate and duration of discharge of a well using groundwater storage. Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 16(2), pp.519-524.
 
36- Todd, D.K., 1980. Groundwater Hydrology (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-0471058574.
 
37- Williams, J.H., Paillet, F.L. and Kuniansky, E.L., 2002. Use of acoustic televiewer data to characterize fracture networks in boreholes. Hydrogeology Journal, 10(2), pp.238–247.
 
38- Xie, Z., Liu. W., Chen, S., Yao, R., Yang, C., Zhang, X., Li, J., Wang, Y. and Zhang, Y., 2022. Machine learning approaches to reduce interpretation subjectivity in hydrogeological modeling. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 58, pp-102227.  DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102227
Volume 48, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 79-103

  • Receive Date 01 July 2025
  • Revise Date 01 September 2025
  • Accept Date 22 September 2025
  • Publish Date 04 January 2026