575.626.81 - Hydrogeology

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules. The modules can be accessed by clicking Course Modules in Canvas on the left menu. A module will have several sections, including the overview, content, readings, discussion, and assignments. Students are encouraged to preview all sections of each module before starting the module. Students should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for Assignment due dates.

Course Topics

Introduction to Hydrogeology, Hydrologic Cycle, Water Budgets
Properties of Aquifers I
Properties of Aquifers II
Principles of Groundwater Flow
Groundwater Flow to Wells
Soil Moisture and Groundwater Recharge
Regional Groundwater Flow
Groundwater Geology
Groundwater Development and Management
Groundwater Chemistry
Water Quality and Groundwater Contamination
Groundwater Remediation Concepts
Groundwater Modeling – Numerical Models
Groundwater Modeling – Applications

Course Goals

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Define and recognize the basic elements and equations that define the hydrologic cycle as it relates to groundwater and surface-water flow.
• Determine the hydrologic parameters that govern groundwater flow in water-bearing formations, as applied to local and regional aquifer settings.
• Develop and interpret mapping tools that, along with governing flow equations, aid in determining the direction and velocity of groundwater flow.
• Distinguish the variables that affect groundwater flow to wells and, using governing flow equations, calculate well parameters and sustainable aquifer yield in response to a range of hydrogeologic conditions.
• Define the role of groundwater in the overall systems of water movement and storage on Earth, and recognize the stresses such systems currently are experiencing.
• Predict the basic behavior of common environmental contaminants in terms of dissolved concentration in groundwater under various settings of aquatic chemistry.
• Formulate and solve realistic problems regarding groundwater flow and the transport of environmental chemicals in groundwater requiring the application of computations to model hydrogeologic systems.

Textbooks

Required

Fetter, C.W. (2001). Applied hydrogeology (4th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

ISBN-10: 0130882399

ISBN-13: 9780130882394

Though a 5th addition of the textbook is available, the instructors strongly prefer to use the 4th edition.  Please make sure you’re aware of this.  Textbook information for this course is available online through the appropriate bookstore website: For online courses, search the MBS website at http://ep.jhu.edu/bookstore.

Additionally, either of the following texts or other texts may be useful for selected portions of this course if you find yourself struggling with specific skills:

• Freeze, R. A. and J.A. Cherry (1979). Ground water. Prentice Hall.

Required Software

Required Software

You will need access to a recent version of BIOCHLOR (Version 2.2) with a computer system capable of running Microsoft Excel 97 or later for Windows. Students can download a free version of BIOCHLOR from the following website: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/biochlor-natural-attenuation-decision-support-system.

You will need to download the demonstration version of the AQTESOLV software to complete certain assignments. The software is available free at the following website: http://www.aqtesolv.com/demo.htm. Important: note that the software is designed to run on a PC; if you have to use a Mac you will need a Windows emulator.

Student Coursework Requirements

Student Coursework Requirements

The instructors expect that each module will take between approximately 6-11 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts and, at times, outside reading (approximately 1-2 hours per week;) listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 1-2 hours per week;) solving graded Assignments and Quizzes (approximately 2-3 hours per week;) participating in class discussions (approximately 1-2 hours per week;) and completing the individual project that will be due at the end of the course (approximately 1-2 hours per week.)

The course will consist of the following basic student requirements:

1. Class Discussions (18% of Final Grade Calculation)

Each student is responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for the Discussion forum. The majority of readings are from the course text. Additional reading may be assigned to supplement text readings.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of Day 5 for that module week. Posting a response to the discussion question is Part One of your grade for module discussions.

Part Two of your grade for class discussion is your interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least one classmate as required. Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; we want you to be proactive in interacting with your classmates. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive. Post your responses to classmates by the evening of Day 7 of the module week.

The instructors will monitor module discussions and may respond to some of the discussions as they are posted. In some instances, the instructors may summarize the overall discussions and post the summary for the module.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions.

Refer to the Discussion Forum Rubric for information on discussion-participation expectations.

2. Assignments (30% of Final Grade Calculation)

Assignments primarily will be quantitative in nature but also may include qualitative assignments (e.g. literature reviews, model summaries.) Include a cover sheet with your name and Assignment identifier. Also include your name and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of your submissions. Each problem should have the problem statement, assumptions, computations, and conclusions/discussion delineated. All figures and tables should be captioned and labeled appropriately. Additionally, please provide quantitative answers with the units requested and rigorously apply the rules for significant figures.

All Assignments are due according to the dates in the Couse Calendar. Assignments typically are due by midnight on the Tuesday following the end of each module.

Refer to the Module Assignment Rubric for information on assignment expectations.

3. Hydrogeology Course Project (35% of Final Grade Calculation)

A Course Project involving a mock site will be assigned early in the course and will have several assignments throughout the semester, culminating in a final report due at the end of Module 14. The Course Project will require individual effort by each student. Details on the project are provided in the Hydrogeology Course Project Description.

The Course Project will be evaluated by the criteria described in detail in the Course Project Description.

4. Quizzes (15% of Final Grade Calculation)

Quizzes will be qualitative or quantitative in nature and will occur periodically during the course (i.e., in modules 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12.). Students may use the course text to complete the quizzes.

Students must complete each quiz during the week the module is introduced.

All quizzes contain either multiple-choice or true-false questions.

5. Participation (2% of Final Grade Calculation)

The instructors offer valuable live Office Hours sessions once a week every Sunday evening, from 8 PM to 9 PM ET. During these sessions the instructors address any questions from students that have been posed in advance (using the Questions and Answers Discussion forum) or are raised during the Office Hours. The instructors will also discuss relevant information and experiences beyond that presented in the lectures. This can be a useful tool to expand your knowledge of the course topics and answer questions you might have not thought to ask. Therefore, the instructors expect each student to attend at least five (5) of the fourteen (14) Office Hour sessions for the Participation component of their course grade.

Grading

Student assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar and as specified in the corresponding modules. The instructors will post grades within 1 week after assignment due dates.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course; that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

Late Penalty – Assignments submitted late will be penalized 5% per day of the final grade. Assignments

submitted after 14 days late will not receive credit, unless approved by the instructors in advance for warranted circumstances. If you have an extenuating circumstance that may affect the timeliness of your assignment submission(s) you must contact the instructors in advance to discuss potential options.

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.