Simulation of Groundwater Flow, Effects of Artificial Recharge, and Storage Volume Changes in the Equus Beds Aquifer Near the City of Wichita, Kansas

Simulation of Groundwater Flow, Effects of Artificial Recharge, and Storage Volume Changes in the Equus Beds Aquifer Near the City of Wichita, Kansas
Author: Brian P Kelly
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 100
Release: 2014-08-01
Genre:
ISBN: 9781500267087

The Equus Beds aquifer is a primary water-supply source for Wichita, Kansas and the surrounding area because of shallow depth to water, large saturated thickness, and generally good water quality. Substantial water-level declines in the Equus Beds aquifer have resulted from pumping groundwater for agricultural and municipal needs, as well as periodic drought conditions. In March 2006, the city of Wichita began construction of the Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery project to store and later recover groundwater, and to form a hydraulic barrier to the known chloride-brine plume near Burrton, Kansas. In October 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Wichita, began a study to determine groundwater flow in the area of the Wichita well field, and chloride transport from the Arkansas River and Burrton oilfield to the Wichita well field. Groundwater flow was simulated for the Equus Beds aquifer using the three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater-flow model MODFLOW-2000. The model simulates steady-state and transient conditions. The groundwater-flow model was calibrated by adjusting model input data and model geometry until model results matched field observations within an acceptable level of accuracy. The root mean square (RMS) error for water-level observations for the steady-state calibration simulation is 9.82 feet. The ratio of the RMS error to the total head loss in the model area is 0.049 and the mean error for water-level observations is 3.86 feet. The difference between flow into the model and flow out of the model across all model boundaries is -0.08 percent of total flow for the steady-state calibration. The RMS error for water-level observations for the transient calibration simulation is 2.48 feet, the ratio of the RMS error to the total head loss in the model area is 0.0124, and the mean error for water-level observations is 0.03 feet. The RMS error calculated for observed and simulated base flow gains or losses for the Arkansas River for the transient simulation is 7,916,564 cubic feet per day (91.6 cubic feet per second) and the RMS error divided by (/) the total range in streamflow (7,916,564/37,461,669 cubic feet per day) is 22 percent. The RMS error calculated for observed and simulated streamflow gains or losses for the Little Arkansas River for the transient simulation is 5,610,089 cubic feet per day(64.9 cubic feet per second) and the RMS error divided by the total range in streamflow (5,612,918/41,791,091 cubic feet per day) is 13 percent. The mean error between observed and simulated base flow gains or losses was 29,999 cubic feet per day (0.34 cubic feet per second) for the Arkansas River and -1,369,250 cubic feet per day (-15.8 cubic feet per second) for the Little Arkansas River. Cumulative streamflow gain and loss observations are similar to the cumulative simulated equivalents. Average percent mass balance difference for individual stress periods ranged from -0.46 to 0.51 percent. The cumulative mass balance for the transient calibration was 0.01 percent.

Colorado Water

Colorado Water
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2013-07
Genre: Water resources development
ISBN:

The scope of [Colorado Water] is devoted to enhancing communication between Colorado water users and managers and faculty at the research universities in the state.

Design, Operation, and Maintenance for Sustainable Underground Storage Facilities

Design, Operation, and Maintenance for Sustainable Underground Storage Facilities
Author: H. Bouwer
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2009-09-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781843392514

Achieving a sustainable, reliable drinking water supply has emerged in recent years as an increasingly important goal, not only in the United States but also worldwide. This is being driven by population growth, increasing water demands, declining groundwater levels, contamination of water sources, greater awareness of adverse environmental impacts, concern regarding the potential impacts of global warming, and many other factors. Among the many methods that are being applied to achieve this goal, managed aquifer recharge is proving to be viable and cost-effective. Recent advances in the science of aquifer recharge, including the geochemistry, microbiology, and hydraulics, provide a strong foundation for the successful implementation of aquifer recharge projects. However, to achieve success, it is necessary to understand the lessons learned, taking advantage of good ideas that worked and not repeating the ideas that did not work. The overall goal of this project was to identify technical variables that result in successful design, operation, and maintenance of sustainable underground storage (SUS) facilities. The key objectives of the project were to increase the available knowledge base of SUS facilities throughout the United States, survey a variety underground storage facilities, identify and evaluate sites where SUS performance failed to meet objectives, address the use of SUS to reduce the vulnerability of water facilities, and create an easy-to-use, practical guidance document and outreach program to distribute research findings. The final report discusses surface and well recharge methods and includes a concise summary of the most important lessons learned from the 22 operating and failed recharge sites that were visited. It also includes a proposed analytical approach that may be applied for water utilities to reduce their vulnerability to service interruption and thereby enhance their system reliability. The appendix includes case studies for the 18 operating and four failed SUS facilities that were visited as part of this project. These are presented on a CD, providing useful perspectives regarding how different water utility systems have approached the need for SUS.

Geochemical Techniques for Identifying Sources of Ground-Water Salinization

Geochemical Techniques for Identifying Sources of Ground-Water Salinization
Author: Charles W. Kreitler
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2023-03-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1351445669

Geochemical Techniques for Identifying Sources of Ground-Water Salinization offers a comprehensive look at the threat to the United States' freshwater resources due to salinization and outlines techniques that can be used to study the problem. The book reviews the seven major salt-water sources that commonly mix and deteriorate our fresh ground water (natural saline ground water, halite solution, sea-water intrusion, oil- and gas-field brines, agriculture effluents, saline seep, and road salting). Other topics covered are the characteristics of saltwater sources, geochemical parameters, and basic graphical and statistical methods that are frequently used in saltwater studies. The book also provides geographical charts showing the distribution of the major salt-water sources, illustrating which ones are potential sources in any given area in the United States.Geochemical Techniques for Identifying Sources of Ground-Water Salinization describes the individual geochemical parameters used in identifying salinization and the information on how and where to obtain them. This is an informative book for anyone interested in the present and future quality of our fresh-water supply.

Effective Groundwater Model Calibration

Effective Groundwater Model Calibration
Author: Mary C. Hill
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 475
Release: 2006-08-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0470041072

Methods and guidelines for developing and using mathematical models Turn to Effective Groundwater Model Calibration for a set of methods and guidelines that can help produce more accurate and transparent mathematical models. The models can represent groundwater flow and transport and other natural and engineered systems. Use this book and its extensive exercises to learn methods to fully exploit the data on hand, maximize the model's potential, and troubleshoot any problems that arise. Use the methods to perform: Sensitivity analysis to evaluate the information content of data Data assessment to identify (a) existing measurements that dominate model development and predictions and (b) potential measurements likely to improve the reliability of predictions Calibration to develop models that are consistent with the data in an optimal manner Uncertainty evaluation to quantify and communicate errors in simulated results that are often used to make important societal decisions Most of the methods are based on linear and nonlinear regression theory. Fourteen guidelines show the reader how to use the methods advantageously in practical situations. Exercises focus on a groundwater flow system and management problem, enabling readers to apply all the methods presented in the text. The exercises can be completed using the material provided in the book, or as hands-on computer exercises using instructions and files available on the text's accompanying Web site. Throughout the book, the authors stress the need for valid statistical concepts and easily understood presentation methods required to achieve well-tested, transparent models. Most of the examples and all of the exercises focus on simulating groundwater systems; other examples come from surface-water hydrology and geophysics. The methods and guidelines in the text are broadly applicable and can be used by students, researchers, and engineers to simulate many kinds systems.