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#           Map visualization of groundwater withdrawals at the sub-basin scale      

      June 1, 2016    

A simple method is proposed to visualize the magnitude of groundwater withdrawals from wells relative to user-defined water-resource metrics. The map is solely an illustration of the withdrawal magnitudes, spatially centered on wells—it is not capture zones or source areas contributing recharge to wells. Common practice is to scale the size (area) of withdrawal well symbols proportional to pumping rate. Symbols are drawn large enough to be visible, but not so large that they overlap excessively. In contrast to such graphics-based symbol sizes, the proposed method uses a depth-rate index (length per time) to visualize the well withdrawal rates by volumetrically consistent areas, called “footprints”. The area of each individual well’s footprint is the withdrawal rate divided by the depth-rate index. For example, the groundwater recharge rate could be used as a depth-rate index to show how large withdrawals are relative to that recharge. To account for the interference of nearby wells, composite footprints are computed by iterative nearest-neighbor distribution of excess withdrawals on a computational and display grid having uniform square cells. The map shows circular footprints at individual isolated wells and merged footprint areas where wells’ individual footprints overlap. Examples are presented for depth-rate indexes corresponding to recharge, to spatially variable stream baseflow (normalized by basin area), and to the average rate of water-table decline (scaled by specific yield). These depth-rate indexes are water-resource metrics, and the footprints visualize the magnitude of withdrawals relative to these metrics.

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December 31, 2010

####   Well-withdrawal footprint map, Azraq Oasis, Jordan

Large groundwater withdrawals in the Azraq Oasis area, Jordan, have contributed to declining water levels in wells. This map shows the withdrawal footprint and observed water-level trends (labeled triangular symbols, from Goode et al. 2013).

Pennsylvania Water Science Center, International Programs

April 23, 2018

####                 Wellfootprint - A Map App for Visualizing Groundwater Withdrawals              

Wellfootprint computes a raster map of groundwater withdrawals relative to a user-defined "Depth-Rate Index" (DRI), such as a recharge rate. Dividing each well's withdrawal rate by the length per time DRI yields an area for display for each well's 'footprint' as a circle around each well. Symbols for closely spaced wells are merged to visualize the combined withdrawals eq

Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

#### Daniel J Goode

##### Emeritus Hydrologist

Pennsylvania Water Science Center

##### Stationed at

New Jersey Water Science Center

##### Web Communications

International Programs

djgoode@usgs.gov

717-571-8783

## Related Content

December 31, 2010

####   Well-withdrawal footprint map, Azraq Oasis, Jordan

Large groundwater withdrawals in the Azraq Oasis area, Jordan, have contributed to declining water levels in wells. This map shows the withdrawal footprint and observed water-level trends (labeled triangular symbols, from Goode et al. 2013).

Pennsylvania Water Science Center, International Programs

April 23, 2018

####                 Wellfootprint - A Map App for Visualizing Groundwater Withdrawals              

Wellfootprint computes a raster map of groundwater withdrawals relative to a user-defined "Depth-Rate Index" (DRI), such as a recharge rate. Dividing each well's withdrawal rate by the length per time DRI yields an area for display for each well's 'footprint' as a circle around each well. Symbols for closely spaced wells are merged to visualize the combined withdrawals eq

Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

#### Daniel J Goode

##### Emeritus Hydrologist

Pennsylvania Water Science Center

##### Stationed at

New Jersey Water Science Center

##### Web Communications

International Programs

djgoode@usgs.gov

717-571-8783

### Contact

####               Pennsylvania Water Science Center          

215 Limekiln RoadNew Cumberland, PA17070United States

717-730-6900 

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