CRITICAL STATE OF SALT-WATER UPCONING BENEATH ARTESIAN DISCHARGE WELLS1

ABSTRACT: An approach, based on the realization of the vertical components of flow is presented to determine the free surface of gravity wells and the shape of salt-water upconing in artesian aquifers. The transitional stages from pumping fresh water to pumping salt water at the critical condition are discussed. Vertical hydraulic resistances, being determined and included in the flow domain, allow the use of the finite-difference approximation in a simple form. The suggested approach implies the use of either simple modeling or computing techniques.