A pressure-packer system for conducting rising head tests in water table wells

The pressure system developed for fully-saturated well screens has been modified for conducting rising head tests in water table wells installed in highly permeable aquifers. The pressure system consists of a compressed air source and 1 inch diameter PVC piping with a packer attached at the end. The pressure system was evaluated in a series of rising head tests conducted in a well at a Superfund site in New England. The well was tested with slugs and with the pressure system. Within each technique, estimates of hydraulic conductivity showed no difference. Comparison of hydraulic conductivity estimates between techniques (slug test vs. pressure test) showed differences due to stratigraphy. The interval tested using slug tests crossed two stratigraphic units; the pressure system tested only one of these units. We conclude that the pressure system may be used to characterize the vertical hydraulic conductivity distribution in a series of successive tests by changing the packer position and the screened interval tested.