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An Interactive Physical Three-Dimensional Water Table Model Teaching Tool

thumb book cover an interactive physical three dimensional water table model teaching tool 01
Publication year: 2026
Number of pages: 73

ISBN: 978-1-77470-145-4
https://doi.org/10.62592/IAAQ9558

Citation: Woessner, W. W., Covitt, B. A. & Gardner, W. P. (2026). An Interactive Physical Three-Dimensional Water Table Model Teaching Tool. The Groundwater Project. https://doi.org/10.62592/IAAQ9558.

Authors:

William W. Woessner: University of Montana, USA
Beth A. Covitt: University of Montana, USA
W. Payton Gardner: University of Montana, USA

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Released: 9 March 2026

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An Interactive Physical Three-Dimensional Water Table Model Teaching Tool

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Description

Collecting data needed to decipher how groundwater occurs, moves, and transmits contaminants most often requires boring into the groundwater system, installing wells, and measuring water levels. This book provides instructors with an easy-to-install classroom-scale physical, three-dimensional interactive monitoring well network that is used to introduce and reinforce basic hydrogeological concepts. The PVC tube-based physical model allows students to participate in groundwater data collection and interpretation. Students working in groups interactively measure water levels in model wells, compute hydraulic heads at each well, plot and contour head data creating equipotential maps, and interpret and visualize two-dimensional and three-dimensional groundwater flow directions. An example of a model setup with analyses is provided. A parts list and unit cost of materials are also included. The model configuration can easily be modified by the instructor. This inexpensive physical model works well in a classroom or in an outdoor space as a standard component of a university groundwater curriculum, hydrogeology laboratory or field camp, or high school groundwater learning module, and is well-suited for use in continuing education and community outreach settings promoting groundwater education.

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Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Goals and Objectives

1.2 Organization of Materials

2 BASICS: GROUNDWATER, WATER TABLE, UNCONFINED AND CONFINED AQUIFERS, MONITORING WELLS, WATER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS, AND GROUNDWATER FLOW

2.1 Groundwater

2.2 Water Table and Unconfined Groundwater Systems

2.3 Confined Groundwater Systems

2.4 Transmission Properties of Geologic Materials

2.5 Monitoring Wells, Water Level Measurement, and Defining Hydraulic Head

2.6 Contouring Water Table Elevation (Head)

2.7 Plotting Groundwater Flow Lines

3 AN INTERACTIVE PHYSICAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL WATER TABLE MODEL TEACHING TOOL

3.1 Setting Up the Monitoring Well Network

3.2 Measuring the Water Levels

3.3 Illustrating the Water Table

3.4 Computing Hydraulic Head and Plotting Groundwater Flow

3.5 Computing Groundwater Discharge Through a Cross-Sectional Area and Average Groundwater Velocity within the Model

3.6 Summary

4 EXPANDING THE BASIC EXERCISE

4.1 Explore a Two-Dimensional Representation of Groundwater Flow

4.2 Explore Defining the Slope of the Water Table Using a Rigid Three-Dimensional Surface

4.3 Expand the Well Network

4.4 Assign a Mean Sea Level Elevation to the Horizontal Datum

4.5 Vary the Length of Model Well Casings

4.6 Measure Water Levels When Casing Tops are Not Horizontal

4.7 Display a Land Surface and the Water Table Configuration

4.8 Define Measurement Errors

4.9 Determine Uncertainty in Water Level Measurements

5 MODEL COMPONENTS

5.1 Constructing the Clear Demonstration Well

5.2 Constructing the Monitoring Well Network

5.3 Arranging and Supporting the Model Monitoring Well Network

5.4 Measuring the Water Volume

5.5 Measuring Water Levels

5.6 Mapping the Water Table

6 SUMMARY

7 EXERCISES

Exercise 1 – Computing and Interpreting Head Values

Exercise 2 – Plotting Flowlines and Computing Discharge and Velocity

Exercise 3 – Quantifying Measurement Error and Instrument Bias

8 REFERENCES

9 BOXES

Box 1 – Interpolation of Water Table Elevation Data

Box 2 – Recognizing Instrument Bias, Displacement Errors in Model Wells, and Operator Error When Reporting Water Levels

10 EXERCISE SOLUTIONS

11 NOTATIONS

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGMENT

12 ABOUT THE AUTHORS

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