Development of a Preliminary Ground Water Flow Model for Water Resources Management in the Pingtung Plain, Taiwan

Abstract

Pingtung Plain is formed by Quaternary alluvial fan material from the three main rivers: Kaoping, Tungkang and Linpien. Ground water is the major water supply source on the plain. This is principally extracted from two aquifers. The natural ground water source is derived mainly from direct rainfall percolation and infiltration from the three rivers, with their catchments lying partly outside the plain. Rainfall characteristics are therefore the main factors controlling water resources availability. Pingtung Plain is an important primary production area for southern Taiwan, the comparatively warm climate allowing a long growing season, diversified cropping and the rearing of aquacultural produces. Approximately 75 percent of irrigation and domestic water supplies are derived from ground water. A water balance for the entire plain indicates that ground water resources, under optimized management, are sufficient to meet the existing multi‐purpose uses. Development of a hydrogeological conceptual model is the first phase of a numerical ground water flow simulation. Preliminary results are encouraging, with the final simulations affording better insight to the hydraulic behavior of the aquifer system. Data input requirements for model operation fall into three categories: hydrological stresses, hydrogeological parameters and boundary conditions. After the model is built, the normal numerical modeling process requires significant calibration and sensitivity analyses for the hydrogeological parameters and stresses which are the most sensitive, but the least well defined. A well‐calibrated simulation model can lead to a reliable and realistic management model. With this in mind, the calibration processes detailed are presented, and these data are introduced as initial values in the calibration process.

Simulation-Optimization Modelling for Sustainable Groundwater Management in a Coastal Basin of Orissa, India

“…The interflow is the most sensitive parameter for the basin followed by hydraulic conductivity and specific storage. These findings are in agreement with those of Ting et al (1998) who conducted a modeling study for the water resources management in the Pingtung Plain, Taiwan. This validated groundwater model was then used to simulate some important groundwater scenarios for wet, normal and dry years under existing conditions.…”

Integration of various data sources for transient groundwater modeling with spatio-temporally variable fluxes—Sardon study case, Spain

“…groundwater levels). An example of such a solution is presented by Ting et al (1998), who linearly lumped the relations between rainfall, net recharge and head variability at the field monitoring points and obtained spatio-temporal net recharge in the process of model calibration. Recent advancements in GIS, remote sensing (RS) and automated field monitoring techniques created a unique opportunity to improve the direct type of modeling solutions.…”

Review: Computer-based models for managing the water-resource problems of irrigated agriculture

“…These models have gained inclusive acceptance as effective tools to evaluate the impact of agriculture on the groundwater level and quality. Almost all the previous researchers, except Konikow and Bredehoeft (1992), suggest validation of the model (Sorooshian and Gupta 1995;Ting et al 1998) before it is used for simulation. A successfully validated model could aid as a decision-making tool to obtain quantitative and qualitative guidance in developing and evaluating management strategies.…”