Groundwater flow in layered aquifer systems

Layered aquifer systems typically consist of one or more aquifer units bounded by less permeable material (aquitards). Closed form solutions to layered aquifer problems are limited to single aquifer cases or long-term solutions for multiple aquifers. Storage within the less permeable unit separating the aquifers is not addressed in the many of the existing methods of analysis. A semi-analytical method of analysis of layered aquifer systems using Laplace inversion methods is described for radial and parallel flow. The method takes account of the consolidation of aquitard units separating the aquifers. Drawdowns resulting from point, line, ring and circle groundwater extraction distributions are presented. The application of the theory is illustrated by examples. Boundary conditions addressed include extensive systems and systems bounded by combinations of radial no flow or constant head boundaries.