Continuous electrical imaging for mapping aquifer recharge along reaches of the Namoi River in Australia

In this study the capacity of towed floating electrical imaging for mapping a known aquifer recharge zone in more detail is investigated. A 50 km reach of the Namoi River, Australia, was surveyed. The river is perched up to 16 m above an unconfined aquifer that extends to 30 m below the ground surface. The unconfined aquifer overlies a semi-confined aquifer system. The electrical array consists of two current electrodes near the boat, followed by nine potential electrodes. The sequence of 1D electrical sounding curves generated was automatically inverted to obtain a layered earth electrical model along the river to a depth of approximately 40 m. There was weak correlation between the water conductivity measured in boreholes and the layered earth electrical model. Lithological logs from boreholes near the river indicate that the major layers seen in the electrical conductivity cross-section correspond to the major sedimentary units. Groundwater mounding in the vicinity of the river has been monitored after flooding. The groundwater flood mounds coincide with the location of the predominantly low electrically conductive sediments mapped beneath the river. This suggests that aquifer recharging waters migrate via the sands and gravels, then pool at the water table before dissipating. This survey demonstrates that mapping intervals of low electrically conductive sediments beneath the river maps potential aquifer recharge pathways.