Estimating Pumping Rates and Identifying Potential Recharge Zones for Groundwater Management in Multi-Aquifers System

Agricultural, aquaculture, industrial and domestic activities have placed enormous demands for water, which sometimes results in the over-pumping and associated continually declining groundwater levels. This in turn has led to land subsidence and soil salination. Therefore, it’s important to understand the local pumping activities or the pumping rates in order to implement appropriate water management. The distribution of pumping rates varies spatially and temporally due to the availability of surface water and seasonality. In addition, to have correct estimate of the pumping rates, both the hydrology and geology should be consider. SWAT and MODFLOW are employed and run separately to acquire certain hydrologic components such as the recharge, boundary flow and change of aquifer storage in multi-aquifers. The water balance method (WBM) is then adopted to estimate pumping rates with these components. To validate the proposed model the results of WBM and the official records are compared. Besides, in view of the serious land subsidence occurred, artificial recharge is regarded as an effective tool to alleviate and mitigate the subsidence. Nevertheless, the location of conducting artificial recharge needs to be identified first. The potential recharge zones are assessed based on the simulated recharge rates from SWAT and the spatial distribution of hydrological characteristics of the unconfined aquifer. Ultimately, an optimal recharge zone will be suggested. The proposed methodology is proved capable of estimating the pumping rates and locating the potential recharge zone.     

Regional management modeling of a complex groundwater system for land subsidence control

The three-dimensional groundwater flow model MODFLOW and the one-dimensional consolidation model are coupled and calibrated to simulate the piezometric levels and land subsidence in the complex multi-aquifer system of the lower Central Plain of Thailand. The mathematical models are calibrated against historical data for the period 1955–1990 by considerably updating the system conditions used by previous studies. The aquifer system responses to different pumping schemes are then predicted for the period 1991–2010. The modeling procedure is carried out in close consultation with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), Royal Thai Government. The conclusions of the study will allow the DMR to develop and implement updated groundwater management policies, land subsidence control strategies and action programs in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.     

Optimizing Safe Yield Policy Implementation

The presented method enhances groundwater-mandated safe yield management. It is useful for settings that prevent sustained yield or integrated management. To protect hydraulically connected surface water rights, the Utah government’s Cache Valley groundwater management plan proposes that total pumping increase not exceed 84,431 m³/day. To determine how best to spatially distribute additional allowable pumping, stakeholders quantified limits defining acceptable impacts on selected water resource indicators. A new simulation–optimization (S–O) algorithm used these limits while computing optimal spatially distributed perennial yield or safe yield groundwater pumping extraction strategies. The limits prevent unacceptable decreases in: head and net flow between aquifer and surface waters (rivers, surface/subsurface drains, springs, lakes). The optimization objective function maximizes weighted pumping to provide water for 18 growing municipalities. For 16 perennial yield scenarios, computed optimal pumping increases differ in protectiveness toward senior water rights, and range from 16% to 103% of the state plan-proposed increase. Implementing a protective strategy would achieve 90% of the storage changes needed to reach equilibrium within 23 years. Indicator potentiometric heads would reach equilibrium within 10–40 years. At equilibrium, an optimal Cache Valley perennial yield strategy acceptably minimizes net annual non-pumping discharges. By comparison, multi-period 20-year transient groundwater mining optimizations allow more pumping in early years. Pumping then must decline to satisfy seepage and head constraints through year 20. Adverse seepage impact would increase for years thereafter. For situations governed by safe or perennial yield policy, equilibrium-based (steady-state) optimization is very useful. It effectively develops optimal perennial yield strategies.     

土水比指标在天津沉降区地下水资源管理中的应用

天津地面沉降形势严峻,加强地下水资源管理是控制地面沉降的关键。理论和实践证明,可开采量和临界水位等地下水资源管理指标,其可操作性不强。为此,在综合分析沉降区内地下水开采量和地面沉降所引起的土方损失情况的基础上,提出了一种新的地下水资源管理指标——土水比。研究结果表明:土水比能够指示地面沉降相对于地下水开采的易发性以及沉降区内的地下水资源保障程度;将土水比作为沉降区地下水资源管理的指标,就可以确定出不同级别的沉降易发区域以及地下水资源的保障程度,了解开采条件下地下水资源的补给能力,从而可保证地下水开采不消耗地下水储存资源,有效监控和防治地面沉降。     

Optimization and Simulation Modelling for Managing the Problems of Water Resources

Waterlogging and secondary salinization have become a serious problem in the canal irrigated areas of arid and semi–arid regions worldwide. In this study, a unique and simple technique was evolved in which a linear programming (LP) optimization model was first developed that allocates available land and water resources in order to maximize net annual returns by mitigating the waterlogging problems. A finite–difference two–dimensional simulation model was then used to evaluate the long–term impacts of various water management strategies on the groundwater table with the optimal land and water use parameters which were obtained through the optimization model. The model was used to combat the waterlogging and salinity problem of an area located in Haryana State of India. The calibration, validation, sensitivity analysis, and error analysis of the model was performed before it was used to study the impact of various water management scenarios on the long-term groundwater level. Based on the model results a change in cropping pattern with reduced rice area is suggested. Groundwater withdrawal should be increased by 1–7 % in the various nodes. It is concluded from the analysis of various scenarios that implementing multiple approaches simultaneously are more effective in controlling waterlogging problems as compared to individual interventions.     

Application of Neural Networks and Optimization Model in Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater

This study develops an optimization model for the large-scale conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater resources. The aim is to maximize public and irrigation water supplies subject to groundwater-level drawdown constraints. Linear programming is used to create the optimization model, which is formulated as a linear constrained objective function. An artificial neural network is trained by a flow modeling program at specific observation wells, and the network is then incorporated into the optimization model. The proposed methodology is applied to the Chou-Shui alluvial fan system, located in central Taiwan. People living in this region rely on large quantities of pumped water for their public and irrigation demands. This considerable dependency on groundwater has resulted in severe land subsidence in many coastal regions of the alluvial fan. Consequently, an efficient means of implementing large-scale conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater is needed to prevent further overuse of groundwater. Two different optimization scenarios are considered. The results given by the proposed model show that water-usage can be balanced with a stable groundwater level. Our findings may assist officials and researchers in establishing plans to alleviate land subsidence problems.     

江阴南部地区地下水禁采效应分析

简要介绍了江阴南部地区地质、水文地质条件、地下水开发利用及封井情况,阐述了区内地下水水位动态及地面沉降速率的变化趋势,对地下水禁采所产生的水位及环境效应进行了分析与总结。初步认为:江阴南部地区地下水开采量主要来自含水层的重力释水,地面沉降量主要为含水砂层的压缩变形量,地面沉降与地下水开采间的关系尤为密切,表现为地下水禁采后随着水位的缓慢回升,地面沉降速率迅速减缓。     

Groundwater overdraft reduction through agricultural energy policy: insights from India and Mexico

Rapid expansion of groundwater irrigation has transformed the rural economy in regions around the world, leading to significant increases in agricultural productivity and rising incomes. Farmer investment in wells and pumps has driven this expansion on the demand side; however, the supply of cheap agricultural energy—usually electrical power—is a critical though often overlooked driver of the groundwater boom. One serious outcome in numerous regions around the world has been groundwater overdraft; where pumping exceeds aquifer recharge, water tables have declined and water quality has deteriorated. India and Mexico are two of the largest users of groundwater in the world and both face critical overdraft challenges. The two countries are compared, given that electrical energy supply and pricing are primary driving forces behind groundwater pumping for irrigation in India and Mexico alike. Both countries have attempted regulatory measures to reduce groundwater overdraft. However, with low energy costs and readily available connections, there are few financial disincentives for farmers to limit pumping. The linkages between energy and irrigation are reviewed, comparing and contrasting India and Mexico. Examples of legal, regulatory and participatory approaches to groundwater management are assessed. Finally, the implications of linking electrical power pricing and supply with ongoing groundwater regulation efforts in both countries are explored.     

The Combined Use of Groundwater Quality,Drawdown Index and Land Use to Establish a Multi-Purpose Groundwater Utilization Plan

Groundwater is abundant and widely used for household consumption, irrigation, and aquaculture in the Lanyang Plain in northeastern Taiwan. However, it is subject to contamination by various anthropogenic activities and natural processes, as well as overexploitation, which has led to land subsidence in the eastern coastal area of this plain. It is becoming increasingly urgent to establish a sound plan for groundwater resource management in the Lanyang Plain to ensure the safe and sustainable use of groundwater to meet demands. The aim of this study is to develop a sound management plan for multipurpose groundwater utilization in the Lanyang Plain. This plan is developed with consideration of the quality and quantity of groundwater, as well as current land use practices. First, the groundwater quality parameters are spatially mapped followed by geographic determination of regions where groundwater quality is safe for different purposes, based on the water quality criteria for drinking, irrigation, and aquaculture. Subsequently, the drawdown index, defined as the ratio of the actual groundwater utilization rate to the transmissivity, is determined for each cell and low drawdown index regions are identified geographically. Information about regions where groundwater quality is safe for different purposes and the regions where the drawdown index is low is integrated to create a map which can be used for the production of a sound management plan for multi-purpose groundwater utilization in the Lanyang Plain. Comparisons between our newly created map and current land use for farmlands and fishponds can provide a basis to review the current land use practices in these regions.

     

Simulation-Optimization Modeling for Conjunctive Use Management under Hydrological Uncertainty

The canal water supply, which is the only source of irrigation, in the rice-dominated cropping system of the Hirakud canal command (eastern India) is able to meet only 54 % of the irrigation demand at 90 % probability of exceedance. Hence, considering groundwater as the supplemental source of irrigation, conjunctive use management study by combined simulation-optimization modelling was undertaken in order to predict the maximum permissible groundwater pumpage from the command area. Further, optimal land and water resources allocation model was developed to determine the optimal cropping pattern for maximizing net annual return. The modelling results suggested that 2.0 and 2.3 million m³ of groundwater can be pumped from the bottom aquifer during monsoon and non-monsoon seasons, respectively, at 90 % probability of exceedance of rainfall and canal water availability (PERC). Optimal cropping patterns and pumping strategies can lead to about 51.3–12.5 % increase in net annual return from the area at 10–90 % PERC. The sensitivity analysis of the model indicates that the variation in the market price of crops has very high influence on the optimal solution followed by the cost of cultivation and cultivable area. Finally, different future scenarios of land and water use were formulated for the command area. The adoption of optimal cropping patterns and optimal pumping strategies is strongly recommended for sustainable management of available land and water resources of the canal command under hydrological uncertainties.     

Climate change impacts on natural resources and communities: A geospatial approach for management

Climate change causes environmental depletion, with threats to the global economy. The health and productivity of ecosystems underpin agriculture, with stable ecosystems being the foundation for economic livelihoods and food security. This study proposes adaptation measures, using geospatial technology, for conserving natural resources and improving livelihoods of the local community from climate change scenarios. Planning, policy decisions and resultant programmes are required for natural resource management, which must be based on broad citizen participation and the engagement of rural communities. The suggested adaptation measures will help the planning system to regulate development of natural resources and the socio‐economic environment. The major natural resources in the environment are land and water, both of which can be severely degraded by human interventions, as well as climate change. Various thematic maps are prepared with the use of geospatial technology, in order to be helpful for site‐suitability analysis directed to the preparation of land and water management action plans for socio‐economic development. The study area is a micro‐watershed of the catchment of Ansupa Lake in the Cuttack District of Odisha, India. To reduce climate change impacts on natural resources and economic livelihoods, some adaptation measures have been proposed (e.g., 68.9 ha for afforestation.; 13.94 ha for gap plantations and agro‐horticulture; 389.62 ha for farm ponds and renovation of existing ponds for pisciculture and duckery activities, etc.; 11.33 ha for land management, along with five bore wells, eight dug wells, 51 LBS/check dams, and four WHSs, etc., for water management for sustainable use).     

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and GIS Approach for Prioritization of Drinking Water Utilities Protection Based on their Vulnerability to Contamination

This work presents the use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) as a decision tool to facilitate the process of prioritization of drinking wells that would need more protection before contamination risk. In this study, three aspects of the protection of the groundwater quality were taken into account: natural, anthropic and technical. From these aspects, elements more representative were selected, which can be quantified with available and easily accessible information. Considering those elements, selection criteria were defined which have been represented by: population distribution indicator, human development index, land use, index for aquifer vulnerability to contamination, well age and well yearly pumping rate. The developed method has been applied to drinking supply wells located in the Toluca Valley aquifer (Mexico), and implied the generation of the thematic maps of the defined selection criteria. For the MCDA, the values of each map were converted to the same scale, each criterion was weighted in function of its importance according to the objective and there were aggregated by the way of a lineal combination. The obtained result is a map that shows the level of protection priority of the supply wells. This map can offer information to the stakeholder in a relative short time and contribute to accelerate the actions aimed to protect the quality of the vital underground liquid.     

超采深层地下水引起地面沉降规律的探讨

分析了华北平原地区因超量开采深层地下水引起土层压缩和地面沉降的成因和规律，依据深层地下水非稳定流抽水原理和地层渗透固结理论，计算地下水位下降后形成的深层粘性土层的压缩量和地面沉降量。     

Optimal Groundwater Management Using Genetic Algorithm in El-Farafra Oasis,Western Desert,Egypt

Groundwater is the unique source of fresh water in El-Farafra Oasis, western desert, Egypt. The increasing demand of groundwater in El-Farafra Oasis has resulted in an indiscriminate exploitation of this source causing environmental hazards such as decline of groundwater levels and well interference. In this paper, the study of these problems is conducted. The methodology introduced in this paper includes application of mathematical and Genetic Algorithm (GA) techniques. This situation has led to a growing realization that through good management, use of groundwater can be made more productive and sustainable. The proposed model of optimization is based on the combination of the MODFLOW with GA. The performance of the proposed model is tested on groundwater management problem (maximization of total pumping rate from an aquifer at steady-state). The results show that the GA solutions nearly agree with the solutions of other methods of previous works. Thus, it can be used to solve the management problems in groundwater. This model is used to develop the optimal pumping rate and number of wells in El-Farafra Oasis under different scenarios. The results show that under the current situation, the optimal pumping rate is 183023 m³/day. The second scenario assumes an increase of number of wells by 20%, the optimal rate reaches 220016 m³/day. The third scenario proposes pumping rate 254484 m³/day which equalizes an increase in the cultivated area by 4000 acres, the optimal rate reaches 258007 m³/day.     

Simulation supported scenario analysis for water resources planning: a case study in northern Italy.

The work presents the results of a comprehensive modelling study of surface and groundwater resources in the Muzza-Bassa Lodigiana irrigation district, in Northern Italy. It assesses the impact of changes in land use and irrigation water availability on the distribution of crop water consumption in space and time, as well as on the groundwater resources. A distributed, integrated surface water-groundwater simulation system was implemented and applied to the study area. The system is based on the coupling of a conceptual vadose zone model with the groundwater model MODFLOW. To assess the impact of land use and irrigation water availability on water deficit for crops as well as on groundwater system in the area, a number of management scenarios were identified and compared with a base scenario, reflecting the present conditions. Changes in land use may alter significantly both total crop water requirement and aquifer recharge. Water supply is sufficient to meet demand under present conditions and, from the crop water use viewpoint, a reduction of water availability has a positive effect on the overall irrigation system efficiency; however, evapotranspiration deficit increases, concentrated in July and August, when it may be critical for maize crops.     

Water Resources Management in the Ganges Basin: A Comparison of Three Strategies for Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water

The most difficult water resources management challenge in the Ganges Basin is the imbalance between water demand and seasonal availability. More than 80 % of the annual flow in the Ganges River occurs during the 4-month monsoon, resulting in widespread flooding. During the rest of the year, irrigation, navigation, and ecosystems suffer because of water scarcity. Storage of monsoonal flow for utilization during the dry season is one approach to mitigating these problems. Three conjunctive use management strategies involving subsurface water storage are evaluated in this study: Ganges Water Machine (GWM), Pumping Along Canals (PAC), and Distributed Pumping and Recharge (DPR). Numerical models are used to determine the efficacy of these strategies. Results for the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh (UP) indicate that these strategies create seasonal subsurface storage from 6 to 37 % of the yearly average monsoonal flow in the Ganges exiting UP over the considered range of conditions. This has clear implications for flood reduction, and each strategy has the potential to provide irrigation water and to reduce soil waterlogging. However, GWM and PAC require significant public investment in infrastructure and management, as well as major shifts in existing water use practices; these also involve spatially-concentrated pumping, which may induce land subsidence. DPR also requires investment and management, but the distributed pumping is less costly and can be more easily implemented via adaptation of existing water use practices in the basin.     

Critical Flow for Water Management in a Shallow Tidal River Based on Estuarine Residence Time

To support the development of protective water resources management strategies, a 3D hydrodynamic model was applied to the Little Manatee River (LMR) to evaluate the effects of reducing river flow and drought on the Estuarine Residence Time (ERT). ERT is an important indicator for estuarine environmental quality. The Little Manatee River is a small tidal river estuary with a yearly mean gaged freshwater inflow of 4.8 m³/s. The hydrodynamic model was calibrated and verified by using two continuous data sets for a six month period. Model simulations were conducted for 17 river inflow scenarios. Among the flow scenarios, 13 scenarios were within a flow range from 0.26 m³/s to 10 m³/s total freshwater inflow. A regression equation (R ² = 0.98) fitted by a power-law function was derived from analysis of the hydrodynamic modeling results to correlate model predicted ERT to total river inflow, though ERT can be predicted from gaged freshwater inflow as well. The study indicates that the estuarine residence time reaches 53.3 days under an extreme drought condition of 0.26 m³/s total inflow. When river inflow falls below the critical flow (4 m³/s or less), further flow reductions can cause the substantial increases of ERT by a factor of 2 to 10 times. This suggests that the management of flow reductions is particularly critical when total river flows are 4 m³/s or less if adverse impacts to the water quality and ecological characteristics of the Little Manatee River are to be avoided.     

Predictive Simulation of Flow and Solute Transport for Managing the Salalah Coastal Aquifer, Oman

A three-dimensional numerical model for flow and solute transport was used for the management of the Salalah aquifer. The model calibration procedures consisted of calibrating the aquifer system hydraulic parameters by history matching under steady and transient conditions. The history of input and output of the aquifer were reconstructed in a transient calibration from 1993 to 2005. Predictive simulation of the aquifer was carried out under transient conditions to predict the future demand of groundwater supply for the next 15 years. A baseline scenario was worked out to obtain the piezometric surface and salinity distribution for the “business as usual” conditions of the aquifer. The “business as usual” scenario was predicted and simulated for the period 2006 until 2020. The effectiveness of seven management options was proposed and assessed for comparison with the “business as usual” conditions. The established simulation model was used to predict the distribution of the piezometric surface, salinity distribution, and mass balance under the proposed scenarios for the prediction period 2006–2020. The scenarios were: (1) relocate Garziz and MAF farms far from the freshwater zone, (2) suspend the abstraction of grass production for 4 months a year, (3) changes in agricultural and irrigation system patterns, (4) establish a desalination plant, (5) combined scenario (1 + 4), (6) combined scenario (1 + 3), and (7) combining all scenarios (1 + 2 + 3 + 4). The result of the simulation shows that the best effective option in terms of aquifer groundwater levels is the fifth proposed scenario and the sixth proposed scenario is the best effective option in terms of aquifer groundwater salinity situation during the next 15 years. This project suggested the application of scenario 6 as it is environmentally sound in terms of sustainable management. A prediction has been made which shows that further actions have to be taken within the next two decades to ensure continuity of the municipal water supply. The management scenarios are examined in the case of the Salalah coastal aquifer using groundwater simulation, which can also be applied to other regions with similar conditions. The established model is considered a reasonable representation of the physical conditions of the Salalah plain aquifer, and can be used as a tool by the water and environmental authorities in the management of the groundwater in the region.     

叶尔羌绿洲水资源利用与耗水分析

应用干旱区平原绿洲四水转化模型,对新疆叶尔羌河平原绿洲的水土资源不同利用情景的水资源转化和消耗进行模拟,研究地下水的适宜开采量和灌溉规模问题。结果表明:现状条件下,社会经济耗水量占总耗水量的53%~60%;如果维持灌溉地年耗水650 mm左右、非灌溉地300 mm左右,那么最大灌溉面积约为850万亩,适宜的地下水利用量约为10亿m3,对应的渠系水利用系数为0.49。     

Distributed Simulation‐optimization Model for Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water Under Environmental and Sustainability Restrictions

Evolving optimal management strategies are essential for the sustainable development of water resources. A coupled simulation-optimization model that links the simulation and optimization models internally through a response matrix approach is developed for the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water in meeting irrigation water demand and municipal water supply, while ensuring groundwater sustainability and maintaining environmental flow in river. It incorporates the stream-aquifer interactions, and the aquifer response matrix is generated from a numerical groundwater model. The optimization model is solved by using MATLAB. The developed model has been applied to the Hormat-Golina valley alluvial stream-aquifer system, Ethiopia, and the optimal pumping schedules were obtained for the existing 43 wells under two different scenarios representing with and without restrictions on stream flow depletion, and satisfying the physical, operational and managerial constraints arising due to hydrological configuration, sustainability and ecological services. The study reveals that the total annual optimal pumping is reduced by 19.75?% due to restrictions on stream flow depletion. It is observed that the groundwater pumping from the aquifer has a significant effect on the stream flow depletion and the optimal conjunctive water use plays a great role in preventing groundwater depletion caused by the extensive pumping for various purposes. The groundwater contribution in optimal conjunctive water use is very high having a value of 92?% because of limited capacity of canal. The findings would be useful to the planners and decision makers for ensuring long-term water sustainability.