A comprehensive sharp-interface simulation-optimization model for fresh and saline groundwater management in coastal areas

Abstract

Both fresh and saline groundwater may be of some value to coastal communities. A comprehensive simulation-optimization model was developed to identify optimal solutions for managing both types of groundwater in coastal areas. The model may be used for conventional management problems of fresh groundwater development and of seawater intrusion control. In addition, the model can be used for problems of concurrent development of fresh and saline/brackish groundwater for beneficial uses. A set of hypothetical examples is given to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. In the protection of an over-exploiting freshwater pumping well, the saltwater pumping scheme was less efficient than the freshwater injection scheme. Although the former scheme may be more advantageous in some limited cases, the latter should be considered first as it retains more freshwater in the aquifer. The example of the concurrent development of fresh and brackish groundwater exhibited two different sets of optimal solutions: one with a large amount of freshwater and a small amount of brackish water with high salinity, and the other with a small amount of freshwater and a large amount of brackish water with low salinity.