Awesome Aquifers

General Event Info
Awesome Aquifer is a Division B event that has been in competition since 2005. It is sponsored by the Groundwater Foundation.

History
In 2005, Awesome Aquifer consisted of a setup time, a demonstration time, and a written test. Students could build their aquifer ahead of time and set it up during the setup time or build one on site during the setup time. The students then would demonstrate their project in front of judges. Scoring was based upon a predetermined rubric; a written test was used as a tiebreaker.

The Rules
In 2006, Awesome Aquifer was revised significantly. You are now required to build your model on site in 10 minutes. The presentation of your model counts toward the final 50% of your total score, the two tests make up the other 50%.

Stations
The event this is made up of four 10-minute stations. Most event supervisors will have you rotate from one station to the next (i.e. 1-2-3-4 or 3-4-1-2 or 2-3-4-1, etc). The four stations are:


 * 1) Vocabulary test (questions involve terminology relating to hydrogeology)
 * 2) Resource test (utilize the provided charts, graphs, and maps to answer questions)
 * 3) Building station (here you will be provided with a list of about 4-10 objectives {see list below} to design your model around - this list is what the judges will be scoring your model on. Use your time at this station to build your model aquifer and write some brief notes to help your through your presentation at station 4)
 * 4) Present your aquifer to the judges (judges will base their scores on your ability to verbally define/explain each objective on the list as well as how well you manipulate your model to visually show the objective. In addition, judges might ask a suprise question or two which will make you think on your feet)

Example Objectives
This is a list of some possible objectives you might be asked to demonstrate and some suggestions on how to manipulate the model to show each one:
 * Recharge from precipitation - easiest of all things to represent, all you need is a water bottle, atomizer, spray bottle, etc. to show this.
 * Recharge from surface water bodies - we used small plastic containers (Tupperware) and drilled tiny holes at the bottom so that when we filled it with water it would be drained in about 40 seconds, just place it in top layer of rock and your ready.
 * Groundwater discharge - to surface water and wetlands - all you need for this is your original water body from 2, put small holes in sides and (after its been placed in the top layer) it will fill with water as you pour the water bottle (or other from 1) over the rocks near this, do the same thing to wetland with the wetland being represented by a sponge
 * Connection between surface water and groundwater - I always found this easier to show w/ 2 bodies of water but you can do it in a variety of ways. What I did is took the the water body from 2 and filled it with water, but on the other side had a deeper body of water with small holes in its side. As the water discharged from the first body of water it went through the aquifer to the second body of water
 * Saturated zone - some people use sponge but you don't need to, just fill the aquifer w/ enough water so that this layer (which should be one above the impermeable layer (clay) if you use it) is filled with water. I use rocks or clear beads for this layer.
 * Unsaturated zone - you can use clear beads, rock, etc. for this layer. It's right above the saturated zone and not covered in water. Make sure that water doesn't make this layer start to float.
 * Water Table - between two zones above, just use cloth or a net-like material (net-like material is good to put between all layers so they don't mix)
 * Porosity - use a large rocks and small rocks. Show the difference in the space for water and air in each. (I'm not good with this step so you can be more creative that I)
 * Permeability - use rocks and a sponge. Show that water moves faster through rocks than a sponge, cloth, or different material (you can even use a different kind of rock).
 * Wells - use materials like aquarium airline hose, drinking straws, or other narrow tubes. Add a soap pump, oral syringe or pipette to move water.
 * Well sitting - show how a well in one place works compared to a well in another place
 * Well closure - no explanation needed
 * Relationship between pumping and movement - use one of wells to show how water moves w/ the well pumping and w/o well pumping
 * Impact to SW from well - place well by SW and when doing 3 do it once w/ well pumping and once w/o. Note the difference between how much groundwater is discharged into surface water.
 * One way to contaminate groundwater - use food coloring or powered drink mix
 * Movement of contaminate in groundwater - This is where white or clear beads can come in handy so you can see contaminates movement
 * Remediation - there are tons of filters you can use, be creative and pick one that works for you
 * Sustainable yield - quite easy, either have one partner put water in as precipitation while one takes water out through wells, or have one partner put water in as it discharges to surface water when entering aquifer

Scoring
Vocabulary test = 25%, Resource test = 25%, Presentation of model = 50%.

View score sheet at http://www.groundwater.org/pe/so/aa_score_sheet_0805.pdf.

Bring to the Competition
Competitors are allowed to bring two pencils, and model building materials to the event. Outside books, notes, references, etc. are not allowed. The event supervisor will provide the tests, score sheets, and objectives lists.

Glossary

 * Aeration zone-The zone immediately below the land surface where the pores contain both water and air, but are not totally saturated with water. Plant roots can capture the moisture passing through this zone, but it cannot provide water for wells.  Also known as the unsaturated zone.
 * Aquifer-An underground geological formation able to store and yield water.
 * Cone of depression-The zone around a well in an unconfined aquifer that is normally saturated, but becomes unsaturated as a well is pumped, leaving an area where the water table dips down to form a cone shape. The shape of the cone is influenced by porosity and the water yield or pumping rate of the well.
 * Confining layer-Geologic material with little or no permeability or hydraulic conductivity. Water does not pass through this layer or the rate of movement is extremely slow.
 * Depletion-The loss of water from surface water reservoirs or groundwater aquifers at a rate greater than that of recharge.
 * Discharge-An outflow of water from a stream, pipe, groundwater aquifer, or watershed; the opposite of recharge.
 * Drawdown-A lowering of the groundwater level caused by pumping.
 * Flow rate-The time required for a volume of groundwater to move between points. Typically groundwater moves very slowly—sometimes only inches per year.
 * Groundwater-Water found in the spaces between soil particles and cracks in rocks underground (located in the saturation zone). Groundwater is a natural resource that is used for drinking, recreation, industry, and growing crops.
 * Hydrologic cycle-(also known as the water cycle) The paths water takes through its various states--vapor, liquid, solid--as it moves throughout the oceans, atmosphere, groundwater, streams, etc.
 * Impermeable layer-A layer of material (such as clay) in an aquifer through which water does not pass.
 * Infiltration-Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface.
 * Infiltration rate-The quantity of water that enters the soil surface in a specified time interval. Often expressed in volume of water per unit of soil surface area per unit of time.
 * Monitoring well-A non-pumping well, generally of small diameter, that is used to measure the elevation of a water table or water quality.
 * Overwithdrawal-Withdrawal of groundwater over a period of time that exceeds the recharge rate of the supply aquifer. Also referred to as overdraft or mining the aquifer.
 * Permeable/Permeability-Capable of transmitting water (porous rock, sediment, or soil); the rate at which water moves through rocks or soil.
 * Permeable layer-A layer of porous material (rock, soil, unconsolidated sediment); in an aquifer, the layer through which water freely passes as it moves through the ground.
 * Plume-In groundwater a plume is an underground pattern of contaminant concentrations created by the movement of groundwater beneath a contaminant source. Contaminants spread mostly laterally in the direction of groundwater movement.  The source site has the highest concentration, and the concentration decreases away from the source.
 * Pore space-Openings between geologic material found underground. Also referred to as void space or interstices.
 * Porosity-The ratio of the volume of void or air spaces in a rock or sediment to the total volume of the rock or sediment. The capacity of rock or soil to hold water varies with the material.  For example, saturated sand contains about 20% water; gravel, 25%; and clay, 48%.
 * Recharge-Water added to an aquifer. For example, when rainwater seeps into the ground. Recharge may occur artificially through injection wells or by spreading water over groundwater reservoirs.
 * Recharge rate-The quantity of water per unit of time that replenishes or refills an aquifer.
 * Recharge zone or area-An area where permeable soil or rock allows water to seep into the ground to replenish an aquifer.
 * Remediation-Containment, treatment or removal of contaminated groundwater. May also include containment, treatment or removal of contaminated soil above the water table.
 * Residence time-Period of time that groundwater remains in an aquifer.
 * Safe yield-The annual amount of water that can be taken from a source of supply over a period of years without depleting that source beyond its ability to be replenished naturally in "wet years." Also called sustainable yield.
 * Salt water intrusion-Process by which an aquifer is overdrafted creating a flow imbalance within an area that results in salt water encroaching into fresh water supply.
 * Saturation zone-The portion below the earth's surface that is saturated with water is called the zone of saturation. The upper surface of this zone, open to atmospheric pressure, is known as the water table.
 * Subsidence-A depression of the land surface as a result of groundwater being pumped. Cracks and fissures can appear in the land. Subsidence is virtually an irreversible process.
 * Surface water-Water above the surface of the land, including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, floodwater, and runoff.
 * Water table-The top of an unconfined aquifer; indicates the level below which soil and rock are saturated with water. The upper surface of the saturation zone.
 * Well-A bored, drilled or driven shaft, or a dug hole whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension and whose purpose is to reach underground water supplies to inject, extract or monitor water.
 * Well closure-The process of sealing a well that is no longer being used to prevent groundwater contamination and harm to people and animals.
 * Well siting-Location of a well placed to best protect water quality, access adequate water quantity, and allow for inspection and maintenance of the well.
 * Wellhead protection area-A protected surface and subsurface zone surrounding a well or well field supplying a public water system to keep contaminants from reaching the well water.
 * Withdrawal-Water removed from a surface or groundwater source for use.