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The UniLaSalle Hydrogeological facility enjoys a strategic location in the Beauvais countryside.

It brings together tools that enable students to become proficient in the disciplines of surface hydrological systems, groundwater and soil. Our chalky, water-bearing region provides the perfect location for examining the relationship between surface and groundwater. It is the ideal setting for our researchers and students.

The facility’s 24 boreholes are used to monitor the Beauvais-Tillé airport industrial plateau, La Liovette dry valley, Le Thérain perennial river valley, the agricultural plateau, and exchanges between the plateaux and valleys. Analyses carried out in this facility enable students to shed light on how water circulates in the soil and rock, to monitor its quality and level according to seasonal fluctuations or weather patterns, and therefore plan ahead and act to protect the resource.

Research areas
  • Hydrogeological studies and aquifer characterization (single and multilayer systems), hydrogeological units, rock categories,
  • Follow-up measurements in the field or in the lab,
  • Ascertaining the hydrochemical quality of ground, surface or industrial water,
  • Implications for hydrogeophysics, hydrogeotechnique, agriculture etc.

Applications

  • Any chemical analysis of groundwater,
  • Ascertaining the distribution of subsurface waters,
  • For agriculture: drainage and irrigation,
  • For the environment: risk of aquifer contamination and rising groundwater,
  • Basic measurements for all hydrogeological studies,
  • Boreholes and supply water: constructions, inspections when empty,
  • Ascertaining productive areas, measuring groundwater quality,
  • Studying hydrogeological reservoir fractures,
  • Anion and cation concentrations in surface or groundwater, waste water, water treatment plants, and supply water.

Facility equipment

  • Water withdrawer, perfect for sampling groundwater, floating hydrocarbons and heavy hydrocarbons in hydrogeological boreholes. A hand pump used for pressurization before entry into the well.
  • Moisture sensor to measure volumetric soil moisture. This handheld instrument features a four-tip probe, cable and display.
  • Piezometric level sensor to measure the depth of the water level in boreholes, piezometers, wells, open water, reservoirs, etc. This handheld instrument has a 150-meter measurement range (in cm), a 15 mm electrode, and emits sound and light signals.
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Sounding, used to measure water content, permeability and transmissivity. The tool features a 100-meter current loop and pulse generation and signal measurement system.
  • Multiparameter sensors, used to measure electrical conductivity, salinity, resistivity, turbidity and temperature. This handheld tool features an electrode and a display suitable for field or laboratory work.
  • Logging probes used to continuously record each of the parameters along the entire height of a borehole. This large, heavy tool features a video camera, sensors, a winch and data acquisition systems.
  • An ICS 500 ion chromatography system to measure anion and cation concentrations. This is a lab instrument with detection technology and advanced application features. It has an autosampler and a fast ion chromatography system.

Institutional partners

The European Union with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research, and the Picardy region.

Visite de la plateforme

Découvrez la plateforme Hydrogéologie à 360°, réalisée par Lise Année, Frédéric Ren & Louis Vigneaux, étudiants en 4ème année géologie. (La page se charge en quelques instants)

Accédez à la visite

 

Lahcen ZOUHRI
Head of the Hydrogeological facility