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Analysis of Sustained Ground‐Water Withdrawals by the Combined
Author(s) -
Chau T. S.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1988.tb00412.x
Subject(s) - aquifer , groundwater , environmental science , inflow , conjunctive use , groundwater flow , surface water , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental engineering , geotechnical engineering , engineering , geology , oceanography
The long‐term ground‐water withdrawal potential of a regional confined aquifer in the Cold Lake area is analyzed with a combined simulation‐optimization model. The Galerkin finite‐element method is used in the simulation model to obtain numerical approximations to the hydraulics of ground‐water flow. This method produces a set of linear algebraic equations containing ground‐water variables which are embedded as equality constraints within the constraint set of a linear programming optimization model. Other constraints in this set include restrictions on drawdown, water demand, and hydraulic gradient. The objective of the optimization model is to maximize total withdrawal from potential ground‐water development sites. The objectives of this modeling study are to assist planners and water managers in formulating a long‐term water management plan on water allocation to industrial users and to establish a long‐term withdrawal limit for the aquifer. Analyses include the determination of users’ground‐water withdrawals to maximize total ground‐water use from the aquifer, the analysis of ground‐water supply tradeoff among water users, and the identification of pumping locations and their pumpages that best intercept ground‐water flow in the aquifer system. Modeling results show that there is an interdependency of optimal ground‐water withdrawals among water users. The maximum total withdrawal obtained from potential ground‐water development sites is 90 percent of total inflow into the aquifer. This withdrawal limit for the aquifer can be increased with a new set of sites chosen for ground‐water development.