title: Ground water development--the time to full capture problem.
abstract: Ground water systems can be categorized with respect to quantity into two groups: (1) those that will ultimately reach a new equilibrium state where pumping can be continued indefinitely and (2) those in which the stress is so large that a new equilibrium is impossible; hence, the system has a finite life. Large ground water systems, where a new equilibrium can be reached and in which the pumping is a long distance from boundaries where capture can occur, take long times to reach a new equilibrium. Some systems are so large that the new equilibrium will take a millennium or more to reach a new steady-state condition. These large systems pose a challenge to the water manager, especially when the water manager is committed to attempting to reach a new equilibrium state in which water levels will stabilize and the system can be maintained indefinitely.
authors.affiliation: Timothy J. Durbin Inc., Sacramento, CA 94965, USA. jdbrede@aol.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bredehoeft
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durbin
mesh_terms: D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014872:Water Movements; D014881:Water Supply