Development of Multiobjective Management Models for Coastal Aquifers

Abstract

Management models are developed and solved that are based on the advective-dispersive density-dependent miscible flow and transport processes in the aquifer. Various conflicting objectives of aquifer management are considered in this study. Two optimization models incorporating multiple objectives of coastal aquifer management are formulated. These models are solved for a hypothetical three-dimensional aquifer system for transient flow and transport conditions. The obtained solution results demonstrate potential feasibility of using the embedding technique for the development of multiple-objective coastal aquifer management models. In general, a planned, spatially and temporally, varying pumping strategy, obtained as solutions of an embedded optimization model, is shown to be a viable management method for beneficial exploitation and salinity control of a coastal aquifer. The potential feasibility of these management models for evolving a transient spatially dependent pumping strategy to facilitate beneficial exploitation of the aquifer and to control or remediate contamination due to seawater intrusion is also demonstrated.