Regional Ground Water Modelling Using Finite Element Method - A Case Study

Abstract

Judicious management of the water resources of a groundwater basin needs a comprehensive understanding of the total system and its response to recharge and various pumpages. contemplated. The groundwater basin of D-53 major distributary command area, SriRamSagar project, Andhra Pradesh was simulated using the Finite Element numerical method. Net recharge to the aquifer was assessed by estimating various components of the water balance by adopting the norms of Central Ground Water board estimates Committee with suitable modifications based on the soils, crops and climate of the area under consideration. The approach using the groundwater level fluctuation as an indicator of spatial distribution of net recharge was adopted. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the models sensitivity to its parameters viz. Hydraulic conductivity and storage coefficient. The model was validated against the historical observed data of groundwater levels in the study area and found a close agreement between observed and model computed Ground Water levels for three years from 1983-84 to 1985-86. Since the groundwater levels were rising in the study area, the model was used to determine the stabilizing pumping and recharge rates under a proposed crop-water management scheme.KeywordsGroundwater LevelObservation WellCommand AreaStorage CoefficientWeathered ZoneThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.