Proposal of a New Technique to Detect the Flow Rate of Underground Water from the Variations of Streaming Potential

The Streaming Potential Technique

Abstract

A new technique is developed to detect the flow rate of underground water. Theoretically, it is based upon some temporal variations of existing stream potential associated with movement of saline solution injected into underground water. In several landslide regions in Japan, experimental measurements are carried out for the variations of streaming potential with the lead electrodes which are arranged in various geometries on the ground surface, after injection of saline solution into shallow underground water.
It is shown that the flow rates detected by the present“ Streaming Potential Technique” are in good agreement with those by the conventional tracer technique. The streaming potential technique gains an advantage over the tracer technique in getting possible instantaneous values. Moreover, it is expected to estimate the mass flux of underground water from the variances of streaming potential.