Numerical Simulation and Prediction of Groundwater Flow in a Coastal Aquifer of Southern India
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, India. 2 Present Address: Department of Geology, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
1 Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, India. 2 Present Address: Department of Geology, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
ABSTRACT
Chennai is one of the most water-stressed cities in south India due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The well fields located in north and south of the Chennai city meet part of the city’s water requirement. The south Chennai aquifer is surrounded by saline surface water on all sides. Since 1990, the influence of seawater in to this freshwater aquifer has been reported as an issue for consideration and mitigation measures. Therefore, in the present study an attempt is made to comprehend the status of aquifer with present level of pumping/recharge and to predict the behavior with different hydrologic stresses. Numerical modeling was carried out by finite element approach using FEFLOW software. The model has been developed with three subsurface layers and simulation was processed from January 1998 to December 2020. The groundwater usage had varied from 11.3 MLD to 17.2 MLD during the period of study. If the recharge and discharge continue in a similar pattern, the maximum level of freshwater decline will be 0.32 m at the end of 2020. Hence, prediction of behavior of this aquifer for increased discharge and decreased recharge scenario has been carried out. It is found that with an increase of discharge, there is a sharp change in interface of seawater and freshwater. This model can be used as a tool to understand the aquifer regionally and to plan proper groundwater management measures.
Chennai is one of the most water-stressed cities in south India due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The well fields located in north and south of the Chennai city meet part of the city’s water requirement. The south Chennai aquifer is surrounded by saline surface water on all sides. Since 1990, the influence of seawater in to this freshwater aquifer has been reported as an issue for consideration and mitigation measures. Therefore, in the present study an attempt is made to comprehend the status of aquifer with present level of pumping/recharge and to predict the behavior with different hydrologic stresses. Numerical modeling was carried out by finite element approach using FEFLOW software. The model has been developed with three subsurface layers and simulation was processed from January 1998 to December 2020. The groundwater usage had varied from 11.3 MLD to 17.2 MLD during the period of study. If the recharge and discharge continue in a similar pattern, the maximum level of freshwater decline will be 0.32 m at the end of 2020. Hence, prediction of behavior of this aquifer for increased discharge and decreased recharge scenario has been carried out. It is found that with an increase of discharge, there is a sharp change in interface of seawater and freshwater. This model can be used as a tool to understand the aquifer regionally and to plan proper groundwater management measures.
Cite this paper
Sathish, S. and Elango, L. (2015) Numerical Simulation and Prediction of Groundwater Flow in a Coastal Aquifer of Southern India. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 1483-1494. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.717122.
Sathish, S. and Elango, L. (2015) Numerical Simulation and Prediction of Groundwater Flow in a Coastal Aquifer of Southern India. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 1483-1494. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.717122.
References
[1] Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) (2010) Proposed Coastal Regulation Zoen (CRZ) Amendments, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. [2] Abdallah, A.O.E. and Al-Rawahi, A.S. (2013) Groundwater Recharge Dams in Arid Areas as Tools for Aquifer Replenishment and Mitigating Seawater Intrusion: Example of Alkhod, Oman. Environmental Earth Sciences, 69, 1951-1962.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2028-x [3] CGWB (2011) Groundwater Scenario in Major Cities of India. 52-62. [4] Elango, L. (2012) Saph Pani—Enhancement of Natural Water Systems and Treatment Methods for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in India. DSDS Special Event Water: Out Global Common, New Delhi. [5] Gnanasundar, D. (2001) Hydrogeochemical Studies and Regional Flow Modeling of South Chennai Sandy Aquifer. Dissertation, Anna University, Chennai—600 025. [6] Annapoorani, A., Murugesan, A., Ramu, A. and Renganathan, N.G. (2013) Groundwater Quality Assessment in Coastal Regions of Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India—Case Study. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 4, 171-176. [7] Elango, L., Ramachandran, S. and Chowdary, Y.S.N. (1992) Groundwater Quality in Coastal Regions of South Madras. Indian Journal of Environmental Health, 34, 318-325. [8] Palanivelu, K., Nisha Priya, M., Muthamil Selvan, A. and Natesan, U. (2006) Water Quality Assessment in the Tsunami-Affected Coastal Areas of Chennai. Current Science, 91, 583-584. [9] Sathish, S., Elango, L., Rajesh, R. and Sarma, V.S. (2011) Application of Three Dimensional Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Identify Seawater Intrusion. Earth Science India, 4, 21-28. [10] Sathish, S., Elango, L., Rajesh, R. and Sarma, V.S. (2011) Assessment of Seawater Mixing in a Coastal Aquifer by High Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 8, 483-492.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03326234 [11] Sathish, S. and Elango, L. (2011) Groundwater Quality and Vulnerability Mapping of an Unconfined Coastal Aquifer. Journal of Spatial Hydrology, 11, 18-33. [12] Gnanasundar, D. and Elango, L. (2000) Groundwater Flow Modeling of a Coastal Aquifer near Chennai City, India. Journal of Indian Water Resources Society, 20, 162-164. [13] CGWB (2008) District Groundwater Brouchure, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu. 1-15. [14] Packialakshmi, S. and Ambujam, N.K. (2012) A Hydrochemical and Geological Investigation on the Mambakkam Mini Watershed, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184, 3293-3306.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2189-1 [15] Gangabaheerathi, C. and Revathi, K. (2013) Bacterial Contaminants in Crassostrea Madrasensis Harvested from Muttukadu Backwaters. Indian Journal of Applied & Pure Biology, 28, 91-94. [16] Senthilkumar, M., Gnanasundar, D. and Elango, L. (2001) Geophysical Studies to Determine Hydraulic Characteristics of an Alluvial Aquifer. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, 9, 1-8. [17] Zienkiewicz, O.C. (1977) The Finite Element Method. 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, UK.
[1] Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) (2010) Proposed Coastal Regulation Zoen (CRZ) Amendments, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. [2] Abdallah, A.O.E. and Al-Rawahi, A.S. (2013) Groundwater Recharge Dams in Arid Areas as Tools for Aquifer Replenishment and Mitigating Seawater Intrusion: Example of Alkhod, Oman. Environmental Earth Sciences, 69, 1951-1962.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2028-x [3] CGWB (2011) Groundwater Scenario in Major Cities of India. 52-62. [4] Elango, L. (2012) Saph Pani—Enhancement of Natural Water Systems and Treatment Methods for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in India. DSDS Special Event Water: Out Global Common, New Delhi. [5] Gnanasundar, D. (2001) Hydrogeochemical Studies and Regional Flow Modeling of South Chennai Sandy Aquifer. Dissertation, Anna University, Chennai—600 025. [6] Annapoorani, A., Murugesan, A., Ramu, A. and Renganathan, N.G. (2013) Groundwater Quality Assessment in Coastal Regions of Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India—Case Study. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 4, 171-176. [7] Elango, L., Ramachandran, S. and Chowdary, Y.S.N. (1992) Groundwater Quality in Coastal Regions of South Madras. Indian Journal of Environmental Health, 34, 318-325. [8] Palanivelu, K., Nisha Priya, M., Muthamil Selvan, A. and Natesan, U. (2006) Water Quality Assessment in the Tsunami-Affected Coastal Areas of Chennai. Current Science, 91, 583-584. [9] Sathish, S., Elango, L., Rajesh, R. and Sarma, V.S. (2011) Application of Three Dimensional Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Identify Seawater Intrusion. Earth Science India, 4, 21-28. [10] Sathish, S., Elango, L., Rajesh, R. and Sarma, V.S. (2011) Assessment of Seawater Mixing in a Coastal Aquifer by High Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 8, 483-492.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03326234 [11] Sathish, S. and Elango, L. (2011) Groundwater Quality and Vulnerability Mapping of an Unconfined Coastal Aquifer. Journal of Spatial Hydrology, 11, 18-33. [12] Gnanasundar, D. and Elango, L. (2000) Groundwater Flow Modeling of a Coastal Aquifer near Chennai City, India. Journal of Indian Water Resources Society, 20, 162-164. [13] CGWB (2008) District Groundwater Brouchure, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu. 1-15. [14] Packialakshmi, S. and Ambujam, N.K. (2012) A Hydrochemical and Geological Investigation on the Mambakkam Mini Watershed, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184, 3293-3306.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2189-1 [15] Gangabaheerathi, C. and Revathi, K. (2013) Bacterial Contaminants in Crassostrea Madrasensis Harvested from Muttukadu Backwaters. Indian Journal of Applied & Pure Biology, 28, 91-94. [16] Senthilkumar, M., Gnanasundar, D. and Elango, L. (2001) Geophysical Studies to Determine Hydraulic Characteristics of an Alluvial Aquifer. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, 9, 1-8. [17] Zienkiewicz, O.C. (1977) The Finite Element Method. 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, UK.