Florida Gulf Coast University
U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering
Fall 2025
Last updated: Aug 8, 2025
Recorded Lessons: Link
Surface Water-Groundwater Field Lab: Link
Course: EGN 4930/5932C ST: Groundwater Hydrology
CRN: EGN 4930 – 87245
CRN: EGN 5932C – 86679
Credit hours: 3
Class: Online - Asynchronous
Final Exam: Term Project Report
Ahmed S. Elshall, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering
U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering Joint Appointment with The Water School
Office: Holmes Hall 423 (inside 416)
Research Website: https://aelshall.weebly.com
Office Hours :
This course introduces the fundamental principles of groundwater flow and solute transport in aquifers, emphasizing interactions between groundwater and the environment. Students will gain hands-on experience with basic groundwater modeling using the industry-standard tool MODFLOW, providing a foundation for further study and careers in water resources management.
Groundwater flows beneath the Earth’s surface through pores, fractures, and conduits within aquifers—water-saturated soil and rock formations that transmit significant quantities of water. Groundwater is the Earth’s largest non-frozen freshwater reservoir, accounting for more than 97% of liquid freshwater. It is the world’s most extracted natural resource, with withdrawal rates around 1000 km³/year. Groundwater is a reliable freshwater source, moving slowly through aquifers and providing vital benefits to billions of people. It supplies over half of the drinking water, approximately 40% of irrigation water, and about one-third of freshwater for industrial activities. Groundwater also supports ecosystems in aquifers, soils, rivers, lakes, wetlands, coastal zones, and marine environments, offering numerous ecosystem services. Additionally, groundwater is a geothermal energy resource and plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, such as carbon sequestration in deep saline aquifers and flood-managed aquifer recharge.
Groundwater in Florida is especially critical, serving as the primary source of drinking water for nearly 90% of the state’s population. The state relies heavily on the Floridan Aquifer, one of the most productive in the world, which supplies water not only for Florida but also for parts of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. This aquifer supports significant agricultural and industrial activities, with its porous limestone formations. Groundwater in Florida also sustains the state’s unique ecosystems, including springs, rivers, and wetlands that are home to diverse flora and fauna. The interaction between groundwater and surface water is vital for maintaining the health of these ecosystems and protecting against saltwater intrusion in coastal areas. However, Florida’s groundwater faces numerous challenges, including contamination from agricultural runoff, over-extraction, and the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. Effective groundwater management and conservation are essential for ensuring sustainable water resources for the state’s growing population and economy, as well as for preserving its natural environments for future generations.
This course serves as an introduction to groundwater hydrology, covering elements of the hydrologic cycle and various topics related to groundwater availability. Key topics include aquifer properties, principles of groundwater flow and solute transport, and groundwater pumping. The course also briefly introduces soil moisture and groundwater recharge, surface water-groundwater interaction, and natural environments of groundwater occurrence. Applied groundwater modeling is included. This course is valuable not only for students pursuing a career in groundwater hydrology, but also for those interested in environmental and water resources management. It is a prerequisite for courses in contaminant transport, groundwater modeling, environmental geophysics, and integrated water resources management.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Recommended textbooks provide in-depth coverage of the course topics, if you wish to read further and strengthen your understanding.
The instructor will specify relevant chapters from Fetter (not free) and their corresponding chapters from the Groundwater Project books (free). Students do not need both—either source can be used to cover the same material, depending on preference and access.
These topics and dates including midterm exam date are tentative and subject to change based on class progress. Due dates are tentative; actual deadlines will be posted on canvas.
| Week | Date (From - To) | Topic | Book Chapters | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18-Aug - 24-Aug | Getting started Groundwater importance and challenges |
1 & 2 | HW1 |
| 2 | 25-Aug - 31-Aug | Water budget Porosity and specific yield |
1 & 2 3 & 8 |
HW2 |
| 2 | Monday 01-Sep | Labor Day Observed (no classes) | ||
| 3 | 01-Sep - 07-Sep | Darcy’s experiment and Darcy’s law Measuring hydraulic conductivity |
3 & 8 | HW3 |
| 4 | 08-Sep - 14-Sep | Unconfined and confined aquifers Aquifer storage |
3 & 8 | HW4 |
| 5 | 15-Sep - 21-Sep | Variation of hydraulic conductivity Variation of hydraulic gradient Application of Darcy’s law |
3 & 8 | HW5 |
| 6 | 22-Sep - 28-Sep | Hydraulic head principles | 4 | HW6 |
| 7 | 29-Sep - 05-Oct | Visual understanding of hydraulic head Validity of Darcy’s law |
4 | HW7 |
| 8 | 06-Oct - 12-Oct | Groundwater flow equations Solutions of groundwater flow equations |
4 | HW8 |
| 9 | 13-Oct - 19-Oct | Aquifer response to pumping Steady-state drawdown |
5 | HW9 |
| 10 | 20-Oct - 26-Oct | Transient drawdown: Theis solution Field methods: Conducting a pumping test |
5 | HW10 |
| 11 | 27-Oct - 02-Nov | Field methods: Pumping test analysis Field methods: Electrical resistivity imaging |
12 | HW11 |
| 12 | 03-Nov - 09-Nov | Hydrogeologic site characterization Midterm exam |
13 | HW12 Midterm exam |
| 13 | 10-Nov - 16-Nov | Groundwater modeling: Introduction Groundwater modeling: Model setup |
13 | HW13 |
| 13 | Tuesday 11-Nov | Veteran’s Day (no classes) | ||
| 14 | 17-Nov - 23-Nov | Groundwater modeling: Model calibration Groundwater modeling: Model application |
13 | HW14 |
| 15 | 24-Nov - 25-Nov | Special Topic: Mass transport of solutes | 10 | |
| 15 | 26-Nov - 30-Nov | Thanksgiving Observed (no classes) | HW15 | |
| 16 | 01-Dec - 07-Dec | Presentation of the Paper Review | Project Report | |
| 17 | 08-Dec - 12-Ded | Finals week - No Final Exam |
The instructor may elect to employ a curve that favors the students.
| Grade | Range | Grade | Range | Grade | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 94% or above | B- | 80% to 82.99% | D+ | 67% to 69.99% |
| A- | 90% to 93.99% | C+ | 77% to 79.99% | D | 60% to 66.99% |
| B+ | 87% to 89.99% | C | 73% to 76.99% | F | Below 60% |
| B | 83% to 86.99% | C- | 70% to 72.99% |
For participation assessment, students are expected to watch recorded videos and complete:
These form the majority of your participation grade.
A weekly homework will be posted on Canvas.
A comprehensive midterm exam will be conducted online.
You need to either complete a class project or propose your own project. Self-proposed projects must be discussed with and approved by the instructor before starting.
The class project involves analyzing field data to set up and calibrate groundwater models using MODFLOW for engineering design.
You may propose your own project focused on lab work, field work, or modeling.
Surface Water-Groundwater Field Lab supports both field-based research and hands-on teaching. The lab consists of a growing suite of deployable instruments for performing laboratory-grade analysis in natural environments. Our measurement capabilities are used to investigate the critical zone where surface water and groundwater meet, as well as broader groundwater resources.
You will select, review, and present one paper to the class. In addition, you will serve as a judge for four presentations, providing constructive and meaningful feedback to the presenters. For complete instructions, grading details, and submission requirements, see the Paper Review Assignment.
You have the option to count service learning hours while working on your term project. To qualify, your term project should address a direct or research need for a community partner that is not-for-profit. FGCU can be a community partner.
You have the opportunity to engage in two active EPA-funded projects including fieldwork and modeling:
To count service learning hours, follow these steps:
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Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.