Comment on “Analysis of pumping test data for determining unconfined aquifer parameters: Composite analysis or not?”: paper published in Hydrogeology Journal (2009) 17:1133-1147, by Hund-Der Yeh and Yen-Chen Huang

• Published in: Hydrogeology journal Vol. 18; no. 8; pp. 1975 - 1977
• Main Author: Moench, Allen F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Aquifer testing; Aquifers; Comment and Reply; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Estimating techniques; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy; Groundwater; Hydrogeology; Hydrology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Statistical analysis; Unconfined aquifers; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Wells; Groundwater hydraulics; Unconfined aquifer; USA; Hydraulic testing; Composite analysis
• ISSN: 1431-2174; 1435-0157
• DOI: 10.1007/s10040-010-0660-7

The subject article (Yeh and Huang 2009) attempts to demonstrate by statistical analyses of aquifer test data that parameter estimates by composite analysis (CA) are no better than estimates obtained by non-composite analysis (non-CA) and may even be worse if the pumping test data contain measurement errors. The authors of the subject article reached the above conclusion by use of an inappropriate model and by applying improper procedures. The result is that the subject article presents inaccurate parameter estimates and erroneous conclusions regarding the efficacy of composite analysis (CA) with respect to analysis of data from a single observation well (non-CA).