Estimation of Transmissivity and Hydraulic Conductivity from Specific Capacity and Specific Capacity Index in Dolomite Aquifers

Estimation of transmissivity $T$ from specific capacity $Q∕s$ is a quick method of acquiring hydraulic aquifer properties by avoiding long-term cost-consuming pumping tests. In a similar way, the hydraulic conductivity $K$ can be estimated from specific capacity index $S_i$ . Studies between $T$ and $Q∕s$ in alluvial aquifers have been known for some time, but are much scarcer in fractured or karst rocks. This paper discusses the correlations between $T$ and $Q∕s$ and between $K$ and $S_i$ , based on a database of 298 wells in dolomite aquifers in Slovenia. According to normality tests, all parameters are log-normally distributed except $K$ by some tests. Results show that transmissivity can be reliably approximated from specific capacity by a simple linear equation, as expected in theory or also by log-transformed correlation. An important new observation is that the correlation coefficient for analyses of $T\text{-}Q∕s$ does not increase with logarithmic transformation, as noted by other authors. Similarly, the hydraulic conductivity can be reliably estimated from specific capacity index with significant results except for some uncertain correlations due to a small quantity of data.