A NEW CONCEPTUAL GROUNDWATER-FLOW SYSTEM FOR THE CENTRAL SOUTH DOWNS AQUIFER

• Published in: Journal (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 111 - 116
• Main Authors: Robins, N. S., Dance, L. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2003; Terence Dalton
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chalk; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; groundwater; Groundwaters; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; South Downs; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 1360-4015
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2003.tb00443.x

ABSTRACT The central part of the South Downs Chalk aquifer is intensely used for public water supply. Although the aquifer has a long history of careful development and management, the outline conceptual groundwater‐flow vision has not been formally investigated for many years. A major programme of work has now been completed which (a) provides a new insight into the hydraulic workings of the aquifer, and (b) highlights a number of hitherto poorly understood concepts controlling groundwater movement in the Chalk. These include the key role of geological structure and the occurrence of hard bands and karst‐type groundwater flow as major controls over preferred flow‐paths. The new conceptualisation concludes that the main discharge area for the aquifer is laterally to the north‐south rivers and not directly southwards to the sea.