Sustainable groundwater management through an optimal water supply system using a coupled simulation-optimization...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Resource Management
• Computational Hydrology

Background:

• Urban water supply faces challenges, particularly in coastal cities with inadequate surface water.
• Groundwater over-exploitation leads to decreased levels and saltwater intrusion, necessitating sustainable management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a novel simulation-optimization model for optimal water distribution in Visakhapatnam.
• To mitigate groundwater overuse and enhance groundwater storage through improved water management.

Main Methods:

• Developed a wavelet support vector regression (WSVR) and genetic algorithm (GA) based simulation-optimization model.
• Utilized the modular finite-difference flow (MODFLOW) model for spatial and temporal estimation of groundwater parameters.
• Evaluated three distinct water distribution scenarios (source-wise vs. centralized) with varying constraints.

Main Results:

• The WSVR-GA model demonstrated significant increases in groundwater storage across all cases (9.57-12.54 MCM).
• Centralized distribution systems (Cases II and III) showed 21-25% greater storage improvement compared to source-wise distribution (Case I).
• MODFLOW validation confirmed substantial rises in groundwater levels, indicating improved aquifer conditions.

Conclusions:

• Centralized surface water distribution systems are more effective in enhancing groundwater sustainability in urban coastal environments.
• The developed WSVR-GA model provides a robust tool for optimizing water resource management and preventing groundwater overdraft.
• Implementing optimized water distribution strategies is crucial for long-term urban water security.