LADES
Espace performance
Batiment C1-C2
35769 Saint Gregoire

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Groundwater age is the time between infiltration and the discharge zone : river, drinking well, spring… It represents a transfer time in the catchment but also allows estimating the water turnover.

Groundwater transfer velocity and recharge zone

The groundwater age corresponds to the time of water transfer underground but also to the "age" of the chemical elements dissolved in. These comparisons could be made if the retardation factor according to water of the considered element is known. The knowledge of the water velocity in soil allows carrying out assumptions on the distance of the principal recharge area.

Groundwater turnover estimation to protect against overpumping

Groundwater age also represents the renewal rate. Knowing this time and monitoring it allows adapting the pumping to limit groundwater vulnerability by solicitation of younger groundwater (shorter residence time). As the water level is falling, we know that there is a problem in pumping rate but what does this really imply in terms of water vulnerability ?