GROUNDWATER AND STORAGE IN ROCK CAVERNS, PUMPING TESTS AS AN INVESTIGATION METHOD

When planning rock caverns for different purposes, knowledge of the groundwater conditions at the cavern site is of vital importance. The tradional methods, including water loss measurements in boreholes etc. are mainly one-hole methods that do not give information of the hydraulic properties of the rock as a whole. In order to solve the evaluation problems VIAK has introduced pumping tests as an investigation method. Thanks to the laminar flow conditions pumping tests can be performed where the hydraulic conditions so permit, and by applying the principle of reciprocity the results can be transferred to the cavern site. As an example of the applicability of the method a case study is given.