A slug test is a controlled field experiment in which the water level in a

control well is caused to change (rise or fall) instantaneously and the

subsequent water-level response (displacement or change from static) is
measured in the control well and one or more surrounding observation wells
through time.
Slug tests are frequently designated as rising-head or falling-head tests to
describe water-level recovery in the control well following test initiation.
Other terms sometimes used instead of slug test include baildown test, slug-
in test and slug-out test.
The goal of a slug test, as in any aquifer test, is to estimate hydraulic
properties of an aquifer system such as hydraulic conductivity.

Figure 2. Estimation of aquifer properties from time-displacement data
collected during an overdamped slug test in an unconfined aquifer using
the KGS Model (Hyder et al. 1994) type-curve solution (data from Butler
1998).
Typically, aquifer properties are estimated from a slug test by fitting
mathematical models (type curves) to displacement data through a
procedure known as curve matching (Figure 2).
Attempting to match straight-line methods (e.g., Bouwer and Rice 1976) to
slug test data with curvature leads to ambiguity. Reduce uncertainty by
applying recommended normalized head ranges.
Besides slug tests, other types of aquifer tests used to determine aquifer
properties include pumping tests and constant-head tests.
Rising and Falling Head Slug Tests
Slug tests are often classified as either rising-head tests or falling-head tests
depending on the direction of water-level recovery in the control well.
In a rising-head test, the slug test is initiated by rapidly lowering the
water level in the control well and then taking measurements of the
rising water level. Baildown test and slug-out test are alternate terms
for rising-head test.
In a falling-head test, the slug test is conducted by rapidly raising the
water level in the control well and subsequently measuring the falling
water level. Slug-in test is another term for falling-head test.
Overdamped and Underdamped Slug Test Response
Slug test response is often described as either overdamped or
underdamped. Overdamped response occurs in aquifers of low to
moderate hydraulic conductivity (K) while underdamped response may be
observed in high-K aquifers.

Figure 3. Data from a typical overdamped falling-head slug test in an
unconfined aquifer with fully submerged well screen (data from Batu
1998).
The overdamped response (Figure 3) is encountered most often in slug tests
and is analyzed using mathematical models by Bouwer and Rice (1976),
Hvorslev (1951) and Cooper et al. (1967) among others.

Figure 4. Data from a typical underdamped slug test in a high-K confined
aquifer with fully submerged well screen.
Underdamped response may occur in certain aquifers of high hydraulic
conductivity. In these tests, the response is oscillatory (Figure 4) and
requires specialized methods for analysis.
Slug Tests in Wells Screened Across Water Table

Figure 5. Double straight-line effect from filter pack drainage observed in
slug test data from well screened across the water table (data courtesy G.
Zemansky).
Slug tests conducted in wells screened across the water table may
exhibit a phenomenon known as the double straight-line effect due to
drainage of the filter pack and require special interpretation.
Slug Test Initiation

Figure 6. Falling-head test data showing (1) noninstantaneous test
initiation and (2) noise during water-level recovery.
Slug test initiation involves raising or lowering the water level in the
control well as rapidly as possible. For a given slug test, select a method of
initiation that introduces minimal noise into water-level readings.
Slug tests may be initiated in a number of ways including the following
methods:
solid slug
bailer
pneumatic pressurization
Of these initiation methods, the pneumatic technique is often preferred for
its ability to reduce noise immediately after the start of a test especially in
high-hydraulic conductivity (high-K) aquifers (Butler 1998). For slug tests in
wells screened across the water table, however, the pneumatic method is
not viable and an alternate method of test initiation is required.
When using a solid slug or bailer to initiate a slug test, ensure that the
instrument's diameter allows sufficient clearance inside the well to prevent
blockage and avoid interference with sensors and cables.
Slug tests are sometimes initiated by pouring water into the control well;
however, this technique is not recommended because water running along
the inside well casing wall can result in noninstantaneous test initiation.
Water-Level Measurements
During a slug test, water levels in wells may be measured by manual
techniques or through the use of sensors connected to automatic data
loggers. For most slug tests, especially in high-K aquifers, the use of sensors
and data loggers is essential to obtain sufficiently rapid readings.
Manual measurement techniques include chalked steel tape and
electric water-level sounders.
Pressure transducers combined with data loggers provide rapid
and accurate measurements.
Even when working with reliable transducers and data loggers, it's good
practice to obtain periodic manual measurements at each observation well to
(1) confirm transducer readings and (2) provide backup readings in the
event of accidental data loss. At a minimum, one should take manual
readings before and after a slug test.
A linear schedule is appropriate for recording water levels during a slug
test. For high-K aquifers, several readings per second are recommended.
After lowering the transducer to within 0.5 m of the water surface (Butler et
al. 2003), start the data logger, wait for the water level to equilibrate and
obtain a manual reading prior to initiating the slug test.
Pressure transducers are available in vented and nonvented models.
Vented transducers measure pressure relative to the ambient barometric
pressure. Nonvented transducers measure absolute pressure including the
pressure of the air column above the sensor. A barometric sensor is required
to correct readings from nonvented transducers for changes in barometric
(air) pressure.
Well Construction Details and Related Field Data
You'll need the following field measurements to determine K from a slug test
(see Figure 1 for well construction details):
casing (inside) radius
well (screen) radius
borehole radius
screen length
depth to top of screen from water table (unconfined aquifer) or
overlying confining unit (confined aquifer)
slug radius and length (solid slug)
static (pre-test) depth to water in well
saturated thickness of aquifer
In certain groundwater studies (e.g., LNAPL monitoring), the saturated
thickness of an aquifer under investigation may not be known from direct
measurement at the control well. In such cases, the thickness must be be
estimated from other data sources such as nearby wells, published reports,
geologic maps, geophysics, etc. Another strategy is to perform a sensitivity
analysis for a range of aquifer thickness values and observe how varying the
thickness affects your estimate of hydraulic conductivity.
Normalized Head
Initial displacement, designated as H
0
, represents the change in water level
(rise or fall) from the static (pre-test) position that occurs at the start of a
slug test. Subsequent displacement readings, H, are recorded as the water
level in the well returns to static.

Displacement readings are often transformed to normalized head, H/H
0
, for
graphical analysis. Normalized heads range from 0 (static condition) to 1
(the initial displacement).
Software for slug test analysis such as AQTESOLV allows you to toggle the
display of normalized heads for slug test analysis.
Test Duration
The decision to terminate a slug test is best made by monitoring the
progress of water-level recovery during the test. Ideally, the test should
continue until recovery reaches static or H/H
0
0.05 (Butler 1998).