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South-central Kansas Geohydrology

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Fluctuations of the Water Table

General Considerations

The water table, shown by means of contours on Plate 1, does not remain static but fluctuates much like the water level of a surface reservoir. Whether the water table rises or declines depends upon the amount of recharge into the ground-water reservoir and the amount of discharge from it. If the inflow exceeds the draft, the water table will rise; conversely, if the draft exceeds the inflow into the ground-water reservoir the water table will decline. The amount of rainfall that penetrates the soil and descends to the zone of saturation is the principal factor that controls the rise of the water table. Discharge from wells, from seeps and springs, and through evaporation and transpiration are the principal factors that cause a decline in the water table. Fluctuations of the water table due to these causes are discussed and many hydrographs of observation wells are presented on succeeding pages.

The fluctuations of the water table in McPherson, Harvey, and Sedgwick counties were determined by observing the water levels in wells. Measurements in many observation wells were begun in 1937 and are being continued at this time. Some wells are measured weekly, others are measured monthly or quarterly, while others are equipped with automatic water-stage recorders which yield a continuous record (Pl. 27). The water-level measurements have been made by G. H. Von Hein and C. K. Bayne.

Plate 27--Automatic water-stage recorders on observation wells. A, Well 86 near McPherson. B, Well 674 in old well field of Wichita Water Company. photographs by S. W. Lohman.

Photo of recording device on observation well.

Photo of recording device on observation well.

Water-level measurements made from 1937 through 1944 have been published annually in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers 840, 845, 886, 908, 938, 946, 988, and 1018, and future measurements will be published in ensuing reports of this series. The well numbers used in this report and in the Water-Supply Papers are given in Table 11.

Table 11.--Observation wells in McPherson, Harvey, and Sedgwick Counties.

Well No. in
this report
Well No. in
Water-Supply Paper 840, 845, 886,
908, 938, 946, 988, and 1018
McPherson County
20260
33249
58262
79243
8619
104250
160310
161311
1661501a
202309
Harvey County
22372
246249
299888
300889
305854
309507
310506
311M-1
312M-1a
313M-1b
314M-2
315M-2a
316M-2b
317M-3
318M-3a
319M-3b
3211192
322M-4
323M-4a
324M-4b
3251112
327872
328873
329874
330M-5
331M-5a
332M-5b
333M-6
334M-6a
335M-6b
33987
34086
354875
355877
356876
358325
395701
400831
401832
4021187
403833
404824
405852
4071174
411817
414821
415M-8
416M-8a
417M-8b
419M-10
420M-10a
421M-10b
423M-9
424M-9a
425M-9b
426350
427351
428352
429M-11
430M-11a
431M-11b
4323
433M-15
434M-15a
435M-15b
436M-12
437M-12a
438M-12b
439M-14b
440M-16
441M-16a
442M-16b
445853
4461186
448886
449887
450M-14
451M-14a
452M-17
453M-17a
454M-17b
455M-7
456M-7a
457M-7b
4581189
459M-13
460M-13a
461M-13b
462894
463895
4641188
465M-18
466M-18a
467M-18b
4692
470883
471884
472885
473M-21
474M-21a
475M-21b
476M-22
477M-22a
478M-22b
479M-19
480M-19a
481M-19b
486839
487M-23
488M-23a
489M-23b
491M-24
492M-24a
493M-24b
494M-25
495M-25a
496878
497879
502880
503881
511890
516891
517892
518893
Sedgwick County
53628
538825
540826
544816
547814
549815
55712
558812
560811
563810
567M-25b
568307
572840
575842
578870
582830
588834
593838
606809
609502
619800
627804
628805
634807
636806
637808
642 
660845
663847
664846
67426
715802

Fluctuations Caused by Changes in Atmospheric Pressure

In addition to the fluctuations of the water table caused by addition or withdrawal of water, minor fluctuations caused by changes in atmospheric pressure are observed in some wells. Wells that penetrate water-bearing formations having a relatively impervious bed above the zone of saturation may fluctuate inversely as the barometer fluctuates. The pressure on the water surface in a well increases directly as the increase in atmospheric pressure. If this increase in pressure is not transmitted uniformly to the ground-water body, but acts only on the exposed water surface in the well, the water level in the well fluctuates according to the changes in pressure. If the pressure is transmitted freely through the pore spaces of the soil to the water table, the water level will reflect no appreciable barometric effect.

Hydrographs of wells 202, 310, and 557, obtained from automatic water-stage recorders and inverted barographs obtained from a recording micro-barograph in the same shelters are shown in Figures 12 and 13. Well 202 is the most efficient water barometer of the three shown. This well penetrates part of the Ninnescah shale and the water-bearing zone is overlain by nearby impervious shale. Well 310 penetrates sand and gravel of the McPherson formation, and the water-bearing bed is overlain by a comparatively thin bed of silt and clay. The gravel bed penetrated by well 557 is overlain by about 10 feet of clay and silt which acts as a confining bed, especially at high ground-water stages. The hydrograph of well 557 shows the effect of a nearby domestic well which is equipped with a small automatic pump and pressure tank. The hydrograph also shows the artesian effect produced by the clay bed above the saturated sand and gravel.

Figure 12--Water-level fluctuations in well 202 in 1938 and 310 in 1939 caused by changes in atmospheric pressure.

Hydrograph of wells 202 and 310.

Figure 13--Water-level fluctuations in well 557 in 1938 caused by changes in atmospheric pressure.

Hydrograph of well 557.

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Kansas Geological Survey, South-central Kansas
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Web version April 2005. Original publication date July 1949.
URL=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/Bulletins/79/10_fluct.html