This course has been adjusted for remote participation in Sem 2 2021, however students are encouraged to attend on-campus activities if possible.
This course is of interest to students in science, environment, engineering, law and other disciplines because of the importance of groundwater as a resource and to our environment. The course will include the study of hydrologic balance, hydraulic properties of rocks and regolith, the theory and practice of groundwater flow in porous and fractured media, and the geochemistry of groundwater. Emphasis will be on the quantification of groundwater flow (distribution, velocity and flux of groundwater), its impact on surface water quality and the processes that affect groundwater geochemistry. There will be example applications for water resources, environmental impact, industrial/commercial development, mining and mineral exploration.
Laboratory: The practical component will include interpreting groundwater physical and chemical data, mapping groundwater flow, calculating the rates and volumes of groundwater flow, measurement and interpretation of groundwater geochemistry.
One or more field trips to local sites in the ACT and NSW may be held including a weekend trip to the Riverina area. There will be an independent project requiring independent study, a short seminar presentation and a written report.
Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but will be assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- make qualitative and quantitative predictions of where, how fast and how much water will move in soils, sediments, regolith and rocks at or near the surface of the Earth
- discuss some of the geochemical, physical and biological controls on how groundwater composition changes during various physical and geochemical processes such as evaporation, water-rock interaction and fluid mixing
- discuss some of aspects of groundwater in different geological environments and the present day problems related to Australian water resources e.g., salinity, groundwater quality, groundwater-surface water interaction
- at an advanced level, critically evaluate technical reports and journal articles
- synthesise key concepts in groundwater hydrology and/or hydrogeochemistry and apply them to complex natural environments
Other Information
There will be two field trips in the local area, one single-day trip to Bungendore and surrounds, and another overnight trip to the Snowy Mountains region. There may be a small cost for these trips (2019 cost was approximately $160).
Indicative Assessment
- Laboratory Activities (25) [LO 1,2,3]
- Field Trip Reports (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- Research Project (20) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Theory Examination (35) [LO 1,2,3]
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Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 1 hour lecture, 1 x 2 hour practical and 1 x 2 hour tutorial per week.
- Field trips (see other information).
- Approximately 54 hours of self-study which will include preparation for lectures and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
Students in this course must typically participate in approximately 3 days of field trips, which may include an overnight stay. This requires students to:
- Travel to the field location and stay in field accommodation such as basic cabins or dorm rooms.
- Safely traverse short distances (approximately 10-500m) over uneven ground.
Students who are unable to meet these requirements may be able to partially participate in the trip or negotiate alternative participation and assessment requirements with the course convenor. Please see the trip information page for more information.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Fitts, Charles (2013) Groundwater Science, 2nd Edition. Elsevier Academic Press
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $4110 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $5880 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6395 | 26 Jul 2021 | 02 Aug 2021 | 14 Sep 2021 | 29 Oct 2021 | In Person | View |
