Simulation of Groundwater Flow, Effects of Artificial Recharge, and Storage Volume Changes in the Equus Beds Aquifer near the City of Wichita, Kansas Well Field (1935-2008)

The Equus Beds aquifer is a primary water-supply source
for Wichita, Kansas and the surrounding area because of
shallow depth to water, large saturated thickness, and generally good water quality. Substantial water-level declines in the Equus Beds aquifer have resulted from pumping groundwater for agricultural and municipal needs, as well as periodic drought conditions. In March 2006, the city of Wichita began construction of the EquusBeds Aquifer Storage and Recovery
project to store and later recover groundwater, and to form
a hydraulic barrier to the known chloride-brine plume near
Burrton, Kansas. In October 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey,
in cooperation with the city of Wichita, began a study to determine groundwater flow in the area of the Wichita well field, and chloride transport from the Arkansas River and Burrton
oilfield to the Wichita well field.