Optimal Ground-Water Pollution Plume Containment with Fixed Charges

Abstract

Six ground-water management models were developed and compared to identify the best management alternative for the containment of a ground-water pollution plume in a hypothetical aquifer that is used for freshwater supply. The proposed models are formulated as quadratic programming, linear programming, and mixed-integer programming models. Management models are grouped into two on the basis of treatment cost consideration. The optimal solutions of the models are compared and evaluated on the basis of total costs associated with the remediation system design. Sensitivity of the model solutions to variations in unit pumping and treatment costs are analyzed. The results of the models are quite different in regard to the number of potential interception wells completed, their pumping rates, resulting operation, and capital investment costs. Results show that considerable amounts of savings may be achieved through application of the mixed-integer programming models explicitly considering each of the cost components. Therefore, in remediation system designs that require installation of interception wells, ground-water managers should take into account the fixed charges incurred for each well that is introduced in the mathematical model.