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

Abstract

The Balasore coastal groundwater basin of Orissa in eastern India is under a serious threat of overdraft and seawater intrusion. Two optimization models were developed in this study for the efficient utilization of water resources in Balasore basin during non-monsoon periods: (a) a non-linear hydraulic management model for optimal pumpage, and (b) a linear optimization model for optimal cropping pattern in integration with a calibrated and validated groundwater flow simulation model. Based on the simulation-optimization modeling results, optimal pumping schedules, cropping patterns, and corresponding groundwater conditions are presented for three scenarios viz., wet, normal and dry years. It was found that optimal pumping schedules and corresponding cropping patterns differed significantly under the three scenarios, and the groundwater levels improved significantly under the optimal hydraulic conditions compared to the existing condition. In dry years, the groundwater levels under the present pumping pattern and the optimal pumpage indicated that the non-monsoon pumpage should not exceed the optimal pumpage in the absence of remedial measures in the basin. It is concluded that in order to ensure sustainable groundwater utilization in the basin, the optimal cropping pattern and pumping schedule should be adopted by the farmers.

Management of High Groundwater Level Aquifer in the Taipei Basin

“…Moliná et al (2009) proposed an integrated water management system to examine the aquifer overexploitation in Murcia (SE Spain). Rejani et al (2009) used a simulation-optimization model to determine the optimal pumping schedules and cropping pattern in wet, normal and dry years for sustainable groundwater management in a coastal basin of Orissa, India. El-Naqa and Al-Shayeb (2009) presented the groundwater protection and management strategy, and the impact of over-exploitation on groundwater aquifers in Jordan.…”

A Methodology to Analyse and Assess Pumping Management Strategies in Coastal Aquifers to Avoid Degradation Due to Seawater Intrusion Problems

“…Due to these computational advantages many application of these sharp interface solutions can be found to solve management optimization problems (AtaieAshtiani and Ketabchi, 2011;Sreekanth and Datta, 2011;Uddameri et al, 2014;). Although a direct use of finite difference groundwater flow models as MODFLOW code is not the most appropriate to modeling coastal aquifer processes, it is still a very employed approximation that can be useful to asses management alternatives in some cases (PulidoVelazquez et al, 2008;Rejani et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2010;Llopis-Albert and PulidoVelazquez, 2015;Hugman et al, 2015).…”

Predicting Daily Water Table Fluctuations in Karstic Aquifers from GIS-Based Modelling, Climatic Settings and Extraction Wells

“…Particularly, the groundwater is more heavily relied on to fulfill water demands due to its wide spread distribution and potable quality (Vashisht 2015). For sustainable management, water planners must know how much available water exists in the hydrological system to guarantee supply to all requirements (urban, agriculture, industry) with renewable abstraction, especially in the wake of increasing population and urban, industrial and agricultural demands (Abdulla 2009;Rejani et al 2009). This fact is crucial in semiarid regions, well characterized by suffering a high degree of sensitivity to climate as consequence of highly variable rainfall, significantly lower than the evaporation rate (Mirzavand and Ghazavi 2014).…”