Slug testing has been used over the years to obtain a cost-effective quick estimate of the hydraulic properties of aquifers. Slug testing has gained in popularity since the 1980s since it can be used to obtain hydraulic property estimates in contaminated aquifers where treating pumped waters is not desirable. Slug-testing analysis methods were first developed during the 1950s (Hvorslev 1951; Ferris and Knowles 1954). The simple method devised by Hvorslev (1951) led to its wide use for both confined and unconfined aquifers as an estimate of the hydraulic conductivity within the screened interval. Improvements of the methods by Ferris and Knowles (1954) were made by Cooper et al. (1967) and Papadopulos et al. (1973) for confined aquifers. Later, Bouwer and Rice (1976) and Bouwer (1989) developed a method for analysis in confined, semi-confined, or unconfined aquifers that takes into account aquifer geometry and partial penetration effects. Campbell et al. (1990) summarizes the various methods used and their relative merits with an extensive list of references. An article by Butler et al. (1996) describes the protocol that should be used in the field to reduce errors of estimation. A recent book by Butler (1998) presents a fairly comprehensive summary on slug-test methodology and analysis. If this chapter does not satisfy the reader on the topic of slug testing, the book by Butler (1998) is highly recommended.

Constant-duration pumping tests are a better method of analyzing the physical properties of aquifers (Chapter 9), since their influence goes beyond the immediate vicinity of...