GROUNDWATER MODELS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What parts and accessories come with the model kit?
Each groundwater flow simulator kit ships with the following:

hanging pump, valves, tubing, dye kit with pipettes, marking bands to show water table and sloped water table,

syringe pumping assembly (to illustrate high volume pumping wells), 

siphon bottle (to illustrate low volume pumping wells), 

valve turner - keeps your hands clean & dry as you open/close inside valves,

basic dye set comes with 4 oz of Red,  and 2 oz each of Blue, Green & Purple.

Training DVD, and CD containing manuals. Also included are the Quick Setup Guide - quick instructions for setup, cleaning and use of the model.

So, essentially you will get everything you need to use the model, you simply supply the water and electricity,

Is there any assembly required for the model kit?
Each groundwater flow simulator if fully assembled and tested prior to shipping. If a model does not perform as we expect, it will not ship out until it does. We care a lot about Quality Control, we care about quality and performance.

We provide you with instructions on unpacking the model, and what you need to know to set it up.  We try to make it easy to get up and running.

Can I purchase dye from Creative Labworks?
Yes, We purchase large volumes of dye, and package it in various quantities for sale and use with our products. Our dye is Vibrant in color, Non-Toxic and Organic.

We buy in such quantity that our prices for resale are normally much cheaper than using food coloring from the grocery store. Our dye is safe in the simulators. 

Can I use grocery store food coloring in the groundwater flow model?

Yes, you can purchase food grade dye for use in the simulators. We recommend that the food coloring is diluted in a 1:1 ratio. We recommend ONLY using Food Grade Dyes in the simulators.

Can I use other dye, like RIT dye in the groundwater flow model?

NO, We do not recommend this product ever be used in the groundwater models.

We have seen cases in which RIT dye was far too intense, and stained not only the sands & gravels, but also the acrylic. We were unable to remove the stains from the acrylic. 

How much dye do I ad to  the groundwater flow model during a presentation?

We say that when injecting the dye into the wells, you should add dye with the pipette until a spot of dye comes out the base of the well; This spot should be about the size of a quarter. This is a sufficient amount of dye to see a nice dye trace across the face of the model. The dye that is injected into the wells will be very vibrant and visible, yet it will be diluted with the water in the aquifer.
The water in the back reservoir of the model can appear to be very saturated and dark with dye, yet it will be very easy to see the new dye that is injected into the wells in the face of the model.

How often do I need to change the water in the groundwater flow model during a presentation?
The best response to this question is simply, Use your best judgement based upon the presentation that you are doing. If you feel that the water in the face of the model is too dark to see fresh dye plumes clearly, then it may be time to change the water.

We have taken the models into schools, as well as to community events, Earth Day and Water Week Events. These activities are normally fast paced, and there is little time for a water change. Sometimes we are in a classroom, or we are at a pavilion with little access to fresh water. We start the day with a clean model, and we will plan to run it for 3-5 hours. The key to this situation is to NOT inject huge amounts of dye (simply follow the guidance above), and plan for the possibility of 1 water change. The model holds 3.5 gallons of water, so starting with 4-5 gallons of water, and having approximately that much more on hand is a good idea.

How do I clean the dye out of the groundwater flow simulator?

The easiest way to clean dye out of the groundwater model is simply to empty the dark water. Refill with new clean water, and start the pump up to recirculate the water through the face of the model. Essentially let the pump do the work, and run the model. Letting the model run for a while, the fresh water will  cleanse the dye out of the aquifers. You may need to open and close valves periodically to change the flow for other aquifers.

What cleaners are safe for the groundwater flow model?

We recommend NOVUS Polish #1. this is an acrylic polish and is an amazing product for shining up the acrylic.
We DO NOT Recommend using harsh cleaners on the acrylic. In fact, we only really recommend the use of a mild dish detergent - heavily diluted and just simply to wipe off the acrylic, this is not something that we recommend running through the model. Suds may be a problem if soap is run through the sands of the model. (too much soap may be difficult to flush out of the sands).

What do I do if the lake does not seem to fill up with water?

This is an easy fix. While the face of the model has the appropriate amount of water, you simply swipe your finger side to side, through the lake. This will essentially break the air pockets that are blocking the holes in the lake. The lake will start to wick water from the unconfined aquifer. You can even over fill the sand compartment with water for a few moments if you feel that this is necessary, to get enough pressure to speed the wicking along.

What do I do if the model has not been used in a very long time, some sand areas do not appear to be getting wet?

If pouring water on top of the grass layer does not appear to be wicking into the air pocket, drain the model of all water. We recommend opening the valves up, and starting to fill the back water reservoir. The water will build up enough pressure to flow through the valves into the base of the sand chamber. This pressure will then fill the sand chamber from the bottom. Air pockets should be gone after a few minutes.
We recommend checking a model that has been in storage, before setting it up for presentations. We recommend prepping the model a day or two before you plan to use it. Start by filling the model, and making sure that the sand chamber is saturated. If this is done a day or two ahead of time - the presentation will go smoothly. Damp sand will work great. Be sure to drain the water fully from the sand chamber after your prepping day.

What do I do if the bedrock channels (on the E3100 bedrock simulator) have air bubbles and do not flow freely?

You can start by trying to fill the water reservoir with the valves open (as mentioned in the previous comments). if the pressure from the water does not move the air bubbles, we recommend trying to use the syringe pumping assembly to force water into wells number 1 or 7. if the air bubble is closer to well number 1, put the DRAW tube (of the syringe pumping assembly) into well number 1, and the other tube into well number 7. Begin to operate the syringe to draw water into the syringe, and then expel it into well #7. This motion will assist the bubble in moving. You can also alternate the syringe tubes in the 2 wells to draw and expel water around the air pocket to move it along. You may need to repeat this motion a number of times to get the desired effect.
PLEASE BE AWARE, there is a possibility that there may be a small amount of glue blocking the channel; this is from the manufacturing process. It does not happen often, but it does happen from time to time.

Can I use Chlorine Bleach in the model?

It is with Great Caution that we say yes. If you wish to run bleach through the groundwater model, you can do so, IF YOU FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:
1. Use only consumer bleach, DO NOT use commercial bleach. (what would be used in a water treatment plant is far too powerful to be used in/on acrylic)

2. Use no more than 1 Tablespoon of bleach.
3. Bleach must be diluted when coming in contact with the acrylic. So fill the water reservoir tank, and then proceed to add the bleach to the water in the tank.
4. Be sure to rinse the model well, with fresh clean water after draining the diluted chlorine bleach from the water reservoir. This is best done by emptying the model of all diluted bleach solution, and refilling the reservoir and model with fresh water, then turning the pump back on, and letting it flush the clean water through the unit for 20-30 minutes. Also, be sure to rinse the reservoir out to make sure bleach solution is all diluted and washed away.

We will be adding more Tips & Tricks, as well as Frequently Asked Questions, so check back for more information.

If you have questions that we have not addressed, please email your questions to kjordan@creativelabworks.com
We will add your questions & answers to this page, to assist others with the same concerns.  Thank you for your questions and input.