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.     

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.

     

Current Practice and Future Challenges in Coastal Aquifer Management: Flux-Based and Trigger-Level Approaches with Application to an Australian Case Study

The control of groundwater abstraction from coastal aquifers is typically aimed at minimizing the risk of seawater intrusion, excessive storage depletion and adverse impacts on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Published approaches to the operational management of groundwater abstraction from regulated coastal aquifers comprise elements of “trigger-level management” and “flux-based management”. Trigger-level management relies on measured groundwater levels, groundwater salinities and/or ecosystem health indicators, which are compared to objective values (trigger levels), thereby invoking management responses (e.g. pumping cut-backs). Flux-based management apportions groundwater abstraction rates based on estimates of aquifer recharge and discharge (including environmental water requirements). This paper offers a critical evaluation of coastal aquifer management paradigms using published coastal aquifer case studies combined with a simple evaluation of the Uley South coastal aquifer, South Australia. There is evidence that trigger-level management offers advantages over flux-based approaches through the evaluation of real-time resource conditions and trends, allowing for management responses aimed at protecting against water quality deterioration and excessive storage depletion. However, flux-based approaches are critical for planning purposes, and are required to predict aquifer responses to climatic and pumping stresses. A simplified modelling analysis of the Uley South basin responses to different management strategies demonstrates the advantages of considering a hybrid management approach that includes both trigger-level and flux-based controls. It is recommended that where possible, trigger-level and flux-based approaches be adopted conjunctively to minimize the risk of coastal groundwater degradation and to underpin strategies for future aquifer management and well-field operation.     

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.     

Geoelectrical Sounding for the Estimation of Hydraulic Conductivity of Alluvial Aquifers

Groundwater is a valuable resource for irrigation water. The use of groundwater for irrigation depends on environmental factors affecting long term sustainability and the costs of extraction which affect the economic viability. The cost of extraction depends upon the depth of drilling required and the rates of groundwater extraction that can be achieved. This is determined by the natural water flow through aquifers and so requires an estimation of hydraulic conductivity (K). In the irrigated area of Pakistan the Geoelectrical method, Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was tested to estimate aquifer hydraulic conductivity. A resistivity meter was used to collect VES data by employing a Schlumberger electrode configuration, with half current electrode spacings (AB/2) ranging from 2 to 180 m and the potential electrode (MN) from 1 to 40 m. The field data were interpreted using the Interpex IX1D computer software and the aquifer resistivity (ρ) vs depth models for each location were estimated. A total of 102 groundwater samples from nearby hydrowells at different depths were also collected for Electrical Conductivity (EC) to measure groundwater resistivities (ρ_o). The resultant formation factor (F=ρ/ρ_o) values varied between 0.79 and 12.32 for the entire study area. The extreme values of F obtained from the VES surveys were paired with extreme values of K derived from field tests to provide a linear model of F:K. Seven pumping tests were also carried out to determine K and test the F:K correlation. The empirical relationship developed between the formation factors was highly significant and as such can be helpful for the estimation of hydraulic conductivity for groundwater pumping investigations in this area. This approach to deriving a relationship between the formation factor and hydraulic conductivity can be useful for groundwater investigations elsewhere.     

Assessment of Sustainable Yield of Karst Water in Huaibei,China

This paper presents the assessment of sustainable yield in the Huaibei karst water area of Anhui province, China. A review of sustainable yield definition is introduced first in this paper, and sustainable development in karst areas is more difficult due to the complicated hydrogeologic conditions. General hydrogeology of the study area is provided to characterize hydraulic connections between the karst aquifer and an overlying porous aquifer. Groundwater level declines continuously due to over-exploitation of the karst groundwater, and two layers of groundwater dropping funnel were formed in Huaibei. These problems not only threaten the eco-geo-environment, but also compromise the water utilization which depends on the shallow porous water. A “critical water level” is proposed in this study to assess the sustainable yield, and it is determined by the historical exploitation data which represent the relationship between the karst water and the shallow porous water uses. A three layer Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is used to understand the complex relationship of the karst water level and its influencing factors. Precipitation, exploitation and water level of latest period are chosen as the input nodes, seasonal records of water level are simulated by the ANN model. The sustainable yield is calculated by the trail-and-error adjusting method, and is equal to the pumping rate when the “critical water level” is maintained. The rate of 30.05 MCM/a is the sustainable yield for the Huaibei karst area in 2008, and it is less than the real pumping rate of 35.92 MCM/a. This assessment is meaningful to the management for the Huaibei karst water.     

Stochastic and Robust Multi-Objective Optimal Management of Pumping from Coastal Aquifers Under Parameter Uncertainty

Combined simulation-optimization approaches have been used as tools to derive optimal groundwater management strategies to maintain or improve water quality in contaminated or other aquifers. Surrogate models based on neural networks, regression models, support vector machies etc., are used as substitutes for the numerical simulation model in order to reduce the computational burden on the simulation-optimization approach. However, the groundwater flow and transport system itself being characterized by uncertain parameters, using a deterministic surrogate model to substitute it is a gross and unrealistic approximation of the system. Till date, few studies have considered stochastic surrogate modeling to develop groundwater management methodologies. In this study, we utilize genetic programming (GP) based ensemble surrogate models to characterize coastal aquifer water quality responses to pumping, under parameter uncertainty. These surrogates are then coupled with multiple realization optimization for the stochastic and robust optimization of groundwater management in coastal aquifers. The key novelty in the proposed approach is the capability to capture the uncertainty in the physical system, to a certain extent, in the ensemble of surrogate models and using it to constrain the optimization search to derive robust optimal solutions. Uncertainties in hydraulic conductivity and the annual aquifer recharge are incorporated in this study. The results obtained indicate that the methodology is capable of developing reliable and robust strategies for groundwater management.     

Multiobjective management of a contaminated aquifer for agricultural use

Planned utilization of groundwater from a contaminated aquifer requires development of management strategies that determine the spatial distribution of withdrawal for allocation, as well as for control of water quality. Minimization of groundwater allocation for different purposes, and the control of contamination in the aquifer by a specified pumping strategy constitute a management problem with two conflicting objectives. In order to demonstrate possible tradeoffs between water quality control objective and minimum groundwater withdrawal objective, a multiobjective optimization model is formulated. The solution of the model specifies a strategy to control pollution distribution in the aquifer as per agricultural needs, and also evolve an optimal allocation policy to statisfy agricultural demands. Pareto-optimal solutions representing the tradeoff between the two noncommensurate objectives are established. The formulated model uses the embedding technique for simulating the flow and the transport processes in the aquifer. The constraint method is used to transform the multiobjective optimization model into a single objective optimization model. The resulting model is solved using the exterior penalty function method in conjunction with the Hooke-Jeeves method. The proposed model is easily adoptable for various agroclimatic regions and cropping patterns. For illustrative purposes, the model is applied to a specified study area. Although solutions of the model are presented and discussed as per agricultural requirements in terms of both quality and quantity, solutions for other kinds of water demands can be obtained using the same model with minor modifications. Results show that an optimal pumping strategy can be effectively utilized for controlling contamination in the aquifer.     

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.     

A sensitivity analysis and parametric study for the evaluation of the optimal management of a contaminated aquifer

A typical groundwater remedation problem is studied by using a combined simulation-optimization model. The management procedure employs groundwater flow and contaminant transport simulation models in conjunction with linear and quadratic programming techniques. The methodology is applied to the hydrodynamic control of a contaminant plume that has to be stabilized and removed by a system of pumping wells. The paper focuses mainly upon a sensitivity analysis to the aquifer transmissivity. The effect of changes in the transmissivities of a zoned aquifer upon the optimal solutions of the management problem is examined by considering the optimal pumping rates, the time to remediation and the pumped groundwater volume as the key output variables of the remediation strategies. In addition, the influence of the dispersivities and the imposed hydraulic gradient upon the same output variables is critically evaluated. The results of the study illustrate the need for uncertainty reduction in the knowledge of the hydrogeologic parameters.     

Sustainable Management for Minimizing Land Subsidence of an Over-Pumped Volcanic Aquifer System: Tools for Policy Design

Groundwater management scenarios for the Toluca Valley, Mexico, are examined with a three dimensional groundwater flow model coupled to a one dimensional compaction module. The objective of this study is to establish a management policy for the sustainable development and management of the Toluca aquifer system for minimizing land subsidence. Several scenarios are tested by varying 4 main parameters: recharge, exports to other basins, local consumption, and relocating pumping centers. It is apparent that continuing at current rates of water consumption will lead to subsidence of more than 1.6 m over a 40 year period (2010–2050). Completely stopping exports to Mexico City is not the most important factor in controlling subsidence because the pumping system is mostly located in regions with low clay content, where subsidence is lower. However, decreasing exports by half and relocating the pumping centres to low-clay-content areas does have a positive effect on the overall water budget and subsidence. Based on simulation results, it appears that much of the land subsidence could have been avoided had water policies been applied to restrict pumping in regions with compressible materials. The approach taken in this study could be applied to other locations with similar problems in order to determine the most viable option for water supply.     

A New Groundwater Management Model by Coupling Analytic Element Method and Reverse Particle Tracking with Cat Swarm Optimization

The performance of groundwater management models mostly depends upon the methodology employed to simulate flow and transport processes and the efficiency of optimization algorithms. The present study examines the effectiveness of cat swarm optimization (CSO) for groundwater management problems, by coupling it with the analytic element method (AEM) and reverse particle tracking (RPT). In this study, we propose two coupled simulation-optimization models, viz. AEM-CSO and AEM-RPT-CSO by combining AEM with RPT and CSO. Both the models utilize the added advantages of AEM, such as precise estimation of hydraulic head at pumping location and generation of continuous velocity throughout the domain. The AEM-CSO model is applied to a hypothetical unconfined aquifer considering two different objectives, i.e., maximization of the total pumping of groundwater from the aquifer and minimization of the total pumping costs. The model performance reflects the superiority of CSO in comparison with other optimization algorithms. Further, the AEM-RPT-CSO model is successfully applied to a hypothetical confined aquifer to minimize the total number of contaminant sources, within the time related capture zone of the wells, while maintaining the required water demand. In this model, RPT gets continuous velocity information directly from the AEM model. The performance evaluation of the proposed methodology, illustrates its ability to solve groundwater management problems.     

Artificial Neural Network Modeling for Groundwater Level Forecasting in a River Island of Eastern India

Forecasting of groundwater levels is very useful for planning integrated management of groundwater and surface water resources in a basin. In the present study, artificial neural network models have been developed for groundwater level forecasting in a river island of tropical humid region, eastern India. ANN modeling was carried out to predict groundwater levels 1 week ahead at 18 sites over the study area. The inputs to the ANN models consisted of weekly rainfall, pan evaporation, river stage, water level in the drain, pumping rate and groundwater level in the previous week, which led to 40 input nodes and 18 output nodes. Three different ANN training algorithms, viz., gradient descent with momentum and adaptive learning rate backpropagation (GDX) algorithm, Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm and Bayesian regularization (BR) algorithm were employed and their performance was evaluated. As the neural network became very large with 40 input nodes and 18 output nodes, the LM and BR algorithms took too much time to complete a single iteration. Consequently, the study area was divided into three clusters and the performance evaluation of the three ANN training algorithms was done separately for all the clusters. The performance of all the three ANN training algorithms in predicting groundwater levels over the study area was found to be almost equally good. However, the performance of the BR algorithm was found slightly superior to that of the GDX and LM algorithms. The ANN model trained with BR algorithm was further used for predicting groundwater levels 2, 3 and 4 weeks ahead in the tubewells of one cluster using the same inputs. It was found that though the accuracy of predicted groundwater levels generally decreases with an increase in the lead time, the predicted groundwater levels are reasonable for the larger lead times as well.     

Quantifying a Sustainable Management Space for Human Use of Coastal Groundwater under Multiple Change Pressures

In the densely populated coastal regions of the world, loss of groundwater due to seawater intrusion, driven by changes of climate, sea level, land use and water use, may critically impact many people. We analytically investigate and quantify the limits constraining a coastal aquifer’s sustainable management space, in order to avoid critical loss of the coastal groundwater resource by seawater intrusion. Limiting conditions occur when the intrusion toe reaches the pumping wells, well intrusion, or the marine-side groundwater divide, complete intrusion; in both cases the limits are functions of the seaward groundwater flow remaining after the human groundwater extractions. The study presents a screening-level approach to the quantification of the key natural and human-determined controls and sustainability limits for the human use of coastal groundwater. The physical and geometrical characteristics of the coastal aquifer along with the natural conditions for recharge and replenishment of the coastal groundwater are the key natural controls of the sustainable management space for the latter. The groundwater pumping rates and locations are the key human-determined controls of this space. The present approach to combining and accounting for both of these types of controls is simple, yet general. The approach is applicable across different scales and regions, and for historic, current and projected future conditions of changing hydro-climate, sea level, and human freshwater use. The use of this approach is also concretely demonstrated for the natural and human-determined controls and limits of the sustainable management space for two specific Mediterranean aquifers.     

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.     

Future groundwater conditions under long-term water stresses in an arid urban area

The urban area of Greater Dhahran has an extremely arid climate where the average annual rainfail is less than 71 mm. The Umm Er Radhuma (UER) aquifer in that area is the main source of domestic and landscape irrigation demands. Groudwater use has increased drastically during the last 15 years due to extensive developments in the area. Numerical simulation techiques and hydrogeochemical investigations were carried out to assess the effects of increasing pumping rates on the piezometric surface in the UER aquifer and to predict the future levels and quality of water under different pumping scenarios. A groundwater flow model was developed and calibrated for the area. The increase in the water extraction rate between 1967 and 1990 has resulted in a decline in the piezometric surface by about 4 m in the Dhahran area. The results of simulation investigations indicated that if the present trend of the groundwater withdrawal rate continues, the water level is expected to drop by an additional 2 and by the end of the year 2000, by an additional 6 m by the end of 2010. If the present increasing rate in groundwater withdrawal is reduced by 50%, the additional drawdown will also be reduced to about 1 and 2.5 m by the end of years 2000 and 2010, respectively. The average total dissolved solids (TDS) has increased from 2750 to 3545 mg/l between 1967 and 1990 and will continue to rise to 3922 and 4361 by the end of years 2000 and 2010, respectively. These original findings are important because they postulates the negative impacts of increasing groundwater pumping from an aquifer in an arid urban area on future groundwater levels and quality. Therefore, effective groundwater management and conservation schemes should be adopted to maintain the long-term productivity and quality of aquifers in the area.     

Brackish groundwater resources in Bahrain: Current exploitation,numerical evaluation and prospect for utilization

In Bahrain, where water resources available for direct use are finite and the best of its quality has a salinity of over 2.5 g L^–1, utilization of brackish groundwater is an essential part in the management of the country's water resources. Bahrain's brackish water occurs in the Rus-Umm Er Radhuma formations in the form of a lens of a finite lateral extent, with a salinity ranges between 8 and 15 g L^–1. Planning for utilization of brackish groundwater for desalination purposes in Bahrain was based on simulation modeling of the aquifer system using a mixing cell model developed originally in 1983. The model was used to predict the aquifer response to pumping from the proposed wellfield in terms of changes of TDS over a period of 20 years. Construction and operation of the wellfield in 1984 was based on the predicted salinity changes. Over the past 9 uears of wellfield operation (1984–1993), and through continuous monitoring of the aquifer response to pumping, the collected data is used to post-audit the original model by history matching. The calibration process adopted has resulted in a statisfactory agreement between the model output and the observed data. The model is then used to predict the wellfield salinity changes and the aquifer potentiometric levels. The expected life span for the brackish groundwater utilization by the wellfield is redefined through constrained utilization that takes into account salinity deterioration coupled with the effect of head decline on hydraulic interaction between the brackish water and the upper fresh water aquifer. The results suggest that the operation of the wellfield should cease by the year 2007. Construction of a new model that enables testing and evaluating different development scenarios is recommended to aid future management decisions regarding the utilization of brackish groundwater.     

Search beam method

An interactive multi‐objective decision‐making (MODM) model based on the Search Beam Method (SBM) and a finite‐difference groundwater flow model (GWM), is developed for analysing groundwater resources development and management problems. The SBM utilizes one‐dimensional search in the objective space to (systematically) identify the non‐dominated solutions. The steady‐state GWM determines the aquifer response due to well withdrawals. Three competing objectives of maximizing total yield, minimizing maximum compression and minimizing total pumping cost are considered. Applicability of the MODM model is demonstrated on a simplified confined aquifer system resembling one of the water‐bearing layers underlying Bangkok.     

Hydrologic and Hydrogeologic Characterization of a Deltaic Aquifer System in Orissa, Eastern India

The present study focuses on the in-depth hydrologic and hydrogeologic analyses of Kathajodi-Surua Inter-basin within the Mahanadi deltaic system of Orissa, eastern India to explore the possibility of enhanced and sustainable groundwater supply. The results of 6 years (2001–2006) streamflow analysis indicated that the river flow is highly seasonal and it reduces to almost no flow during summer seasons. Land use map of the study area for the monsoon (Kharif) and post-monsoon (Rabi) seasons was developed by remote sensing technique and runoff estimation was done by curve number method. The runoff estimated for the 20-year period (1990–2009) varied from a minimum of 10.2% of the total monsoon rainfall in 1995 to a maximum of 43.3% in 2003. The stratigraphy analysis indicated that a leaky confined aquifer comprising medium to coarse sand exists at depths of 15 to 50 m and has a thickness of 20 to 55 m. The analysis of pumping test data at 9 sites by Aquifer-Test software indicated that the aquifer hydraulic conductivity ranges from 11.3 to 96.8 m/day, suggesting significant aquifer heterogeneity. Overall groundwater flow is from north-west to south-east direction. There is a 5 to 6 m temporal variation and 3 to 4 m spatial variation of groundwater levels over the basin. The rainfall-groundwater dynamics and stream-aquifer interaction in the river basin were studied by correlation analysis of groundwater level with weekly rainfall and river stage. The correlation between the weekly rainfall and weekly groundwater level was found to vary from ‘poor’ to ‘fair’ (r = 0.333 to 0.659). In contrast, the weekly groundwater level was found to be strongly correlated with the weekly river stage (r = 0.686 to 0.891). The groundwater quality was found suitable for both irrigation and drinking purposes. It is recommended that a simulation-cum-optimization modeling following an integrated approach is essential for efficient utilization of groundwater resources in the study area.