In preparation for a groundwater modeling study of the movement of a plume of contamination, three wells were installed to determine the hydraulic gradient. Three wells were installed in a rectangular grid at the following locations: well A at x = 0 m and y = 0 m; well B at x = 280 m and y = 0 m ; well C at x = 0 m and y = 500 m. The ground surface elevation for each well is at 186.66 m above mean sea level. The depth to the groundwater table in each well is as follows: well A = 5.85 m ; well B = 5.63 m; well C = 5.52 m. Determine the magnitude and direction of the hydraulic gradient.