A Simulation-Optimization Model to Study the Control of Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers

Groundwater contamination is a very serious problem as it leads to the depletion of water resources. Seawater intrusion is a special category of groundwater contamination that threatens the health and possibly lives of many people living in coastal areas. The focus of this work is to develop a numerical model to study seawater intrusion and its effects on groundwater quality and develop a control method to effectively control seawater intrusion. Two major approaches are used in this study: the first approach is the development of a finite element model to simulate seawater intrusion; the second is the development of a simulation-optimization model to study the control of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers using different management scenarios. The simulation-optimization model is based on the integration of a genetic algorithm optimization technique with the transient density-dependent finite element model developed in this research. The finite element model considers the coupled flow of air and water and solute transport in saturated and unsaturated soils. The governing differential equations include two mass balance equations of water and air phases and the energy balance equation for heat transfer, together with a balance equation for miscible solute transport. The nonlinear governing differential equations are solved using the finite element method in the space domain and a finite difference scheme in the time domain. A two dimensional finite element model is developed to solve the governing equations and provide values of solute concentration, pore water pressure, pore air pressure and temperature at different points within the region at different times. The mathematical formulation and numerical implementation of the model are presented. The numerical model is validated by application to standard examples from literature followed by application to a number of case studies involving seawater intrusion problems. The results show good agreement with previous results reported in the literature. The model is then used to predict seawater intrusion for a number of real world case studies. The developed model is capable of predicting, with a good accuracy, the intrusion of seawater in coastal aquifers. In the second approach, a simulation-optimization model is developed to study the control of seawater intrusion using three management scenarios: abstraction of brackish water, recharge of fresh water and combination of abstraction and recharge. The objectives of these management scenarios include minimizing the total costs for construction and operation, minimizing salt concentrations in the aquifer and determining the optimal depths, locations and abstraction/recharge rates for the wells. Also, a new methodology is presented to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. In the proposed methodology ADR (abstraction, desalination and recharge), seawater intrusion is controlled by abstracting brackish water, desalinating it using a small scale reverse osmosis plant and recharging to the aquifer. The simulation-optimization model is applied to a number of case studies. The efficiencies of three different scenarios are examined and compared. Results show that all the three scenarios could be effective in controlling seawater intrusion. However, ADR methodology can result in the lowest cost and salt concentration in aquifers and maximum movement of the transition zone towards the sea. The results also show that for the case studies considered in this work, the amount of abstracted and treated water is about three times the amount required for recharge; therefore the remaining treated water can be used directly for different proposes. The application of ADR methodology is shown to be more efficient and more practical, since it is a cost-effective method to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. This technology can be used for sustainable development of water resources in coastal areas where it provides a new source of treated water. The developed method is regard as an effective tool to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers and can be applied in areas where there is a risk of seawater intrusion. Finally, the developed FE model is applied to study the effects of likely climate change and sea level rise on seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. The results show that the developed model is capable of predicting the movement of the transition zone considering the effects of sea level rise and over-abstraction. The results also indicate that the change of water level in the sea side has a significant effect on the position of the transition zone especially if the effect of sea level rise is combined with the effect of increasing abstraction from the aquifer.Egyptian Governmen

Financial and Economic Evaluation of Germinated Barley cultivation in South of Red Sea Governorate

The research aimed to study the financial evaluation of the cultivar barley units in the Shalateen area in the Red Sea Governorate, as one of the means used in providing green fodder for animal feeding, especially sheep, goats and camels. The research led to a set of results, including: (1) net present value when the discount rate is 9% about 2.445 million pounds, which indicates the feasibility of investment in this activity. (2) the internal rate of Return(IRR) was about 33.53%, which is more than the borrowing interest of the capital represented by the prevailing commercial interest rate, which confirms the feasibility of investing in the activity of cultivated barley. (3) the benifit cost ratio was estimated at 1.176 any larger than one, which indicates the feasibility of the investment. (4) the Pay-back Period (PBP) was estimated at 1.714 years, which indicates the possibility of recovering the invested capital within two years from the start of the project . (5) the return on investment rate was about 27.12 %.(6) sensitivity analysis of barley cultivation units has been carried out, however, the internal rate of Return is still greater than the opportunity cost of capital investment in the community and therefore it is recommended to make the decision to accept investment in barley cultivation units. Therefore, the research recommends the need for expansion in the cultivation of cultivar barley, especially in desert areas with low pastoral Plants

Evaluating the Impact of Urban Growth on the Design of Storm Water Drainage Systems

Urban growth is one of the major causes of flooding in urban areas. This affects the runoff coefficients, which is among the most important factors that affect the design of storm water drainage systems. Changing the runoff coefficient will affect the design parameters of the drainage network, including outfall discharge, velocity, lag time and cost of construction. This study aims to assess the effect of changing the runoff coefficient due to urban growth on the design of a storm water drainage system. The hydrological models Hyfran, StormCAD and GIS are used to analyze different runoff coefficients. This study examines three zones in Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The data developed from the models for the current case studies are used to develop an empirical equation to predict the max discharge for other catchments. The discharge is a function of the return period, runoff coefficient, drainage density, longest path, rainfall intensity and catchment area. To validate the developed equation, we use it to estimate the discharge in a real case study in South Korea. A comparison between the measured discharge and estimated discharge shows that the empirical equation is capable of predicting the maximum discharge for different catchments with high accuracy. Then, the validation of the models is carried out to determine the effect of the runoff coefficient on the design of a storm water drainage system in a case study in KSA. The results show that an increasing runoff coefficient due to urban growth increases the outfall discharge and velocity of storm water drainage systems, as well as affecting the cost of construction and decreasing the lag time. The cost increases by two to three times with increasing urbanization. This study provides a new perspective on the hydrologic impact of urban growth on the design of storm water drainage systems, which are essential for flood management. Moreover, the relationship between urban growth and the cost of storm drainage networks is explored, which could help decision makers to make appropriate judgements

A simulation-optimization model to study the control of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers

Groundwater contamination is a very serious problem as it leads to the depletion of water resources. Seawater intrusion is a special category of groundwater contamination that threatens the health and possibly lives of many people living in coastal areas. The focus of this work is to develop a numerical model to study seawater intrusion and its effects on groundwater quality and develop a control method to effectively control seawater intrusion. Two major approaches are used in this study: the first approach is the development of a finite element model to simulate seawater intrusion; the second is the development of a simulation-optimization model to study the control of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers using different management scenarios. The simulation-optimization model is based on the integration of a genetic algorithm optimization technique with the transient density-dependent finite element model developed in this research. The finite element model considers the coupled flow of air and water and solute transport in saturated and unsaturated soils. The governing differential equations include two mass balance equations of water and air phases and the energy balance equation for heat transfer, together with a balance equation for miscible solute transport. The nonlinear governing differential equations are solved using the finite element method in the space domain and a finite difference scheme in the time domain. A two dimensional finite element model is developed to solve the governing equations and provide values of solute concentration, pore water pressure, pore air pressure and temperature at different points within the region at different times. The mathematical formulation and numerical implementation of the model are presented. The numerical model is validated by application to standard examples from literature followed by application to a number of case studies involving seawater intrusion problems. The results show good agreement with previous results reported in the literature. The model is then used to predict seawater intrusion for a number of real world case studies. The developed model is capable of predicting, with a good accuracy, the intrusion of seawater in coastal aquifers. In the second approach, a simulation-optimization model is developed to study the control of seawater intrusion using three management scenarios: abstraction of brackish water, recharge of fresh water and combination of abstraction and recharge. The objectives of these management scenarios include minimizing the total costs for construction and operation, minimizing salt concentrations in the aquifer and determining the optimal depths, locations and abstraction/recharge rates for the wells. Also, a new methodology is presented to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. In the proposed methodology ADR (abstraction, desalination and recharge), seawater intrusion is controlled by abstracting brackish water, desalinating it using a small scale reverse osmosis plant and recharging to the aquifer. The simulation-optimization model is applied to a number of case studies. The efficiencies of three different scenarios are examined and compared. Results show that all the three scenarios could be effective in controlling seawater intrusion. However, ADR methodology can result in the lowest cost and salt concentration in aquifers and maximum movement of the transition zone towards the sea. The results also show that for the case studies considered in this work, the amount of abstracted and treated water is about three times the amount required for recharge; therefore the remaining treated water can be used directly for different proposes. The application of ADR methodology is shown to be more efficient and more practical, since it is a cost-effective method to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. This technology can be used for sustainable development of water resources in coastal areas where it provides a new source of treated water. The developed method is regard as an effective tool to control seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers and can be applied in areas where there is a risk of seawater intrusion. Finally, the developed FE model is applied to study the effects of likely climate change and sea level rise on seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. The results show that the developed model is capable of predicting the movement of the transition zone considering the effects of sea level rise and over-abstraction. The results also indicate that the change of water level in the sea side has a significant effect on the position of the transition zone especially if the effect of sea level rise is combined with the effect of increasing abstraction from the aquifer.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceEgyptian GovernmentGBUnited Kingdo

Analytical Solution of Saltwater Intrusion in Costal Aquifers Considering Climate Changes and Different Boundary Conditions

Groundwater contamination due to saltwater intrusion (SWI) has an extreme effect on freshwater quality. Analytical and numerical models could be used to investigate SWI. This study aims to develop an analytical solution to investigate SWI into coastal aquifers which was applied to a real case study at the Middle Nile Delta aquifer (MNDA). The study presented a new formula to predict the difference in depth of freshwater to seawater interface due to a change in boundary conditions. A Computer Program for Simulation of Three-Dimensional Variable-Density Ground-Water Flow and Transport (SEAWAT) is used for groundwater flow simulation and SWI and the results compared with the developed analytical solution. Four scenarios are considered in the study, including; the sea-level rise (SLR), reduction in recharge, over abstraction, and combination after 50 years (2070). The analytical solution gave good results compared to the numerical one where Equiline 1 intruded to 103 and 101.66 km respectively at the base case. The results also gave a good agreement between numerical and the analytical solution for SLR due to climate changes by 52.80 cm where the Equiline 1 reached to 105 and 103.45 km. However, the reduction in aquifer recharge by 18.50% resulted in an intrusion for the Equiline-1 to 111 and 108.25 km from the shoreline. Over pumping due to the increase in population by 89% has increased the SWI to reach 121,110.31 km, while it reached 131 and 111.32 km at a combination of the three scenarios, which represents the highest threatening scenario. Also, the difference between the two solutions reached 1.30%, 1.48%, 2.48%, 8.84%, and 15.02%, respectively for the base case and four scenarios. For the current case study, the analytical model gave good results compared to the numerical one, so that the analytical solution is recommended for similar studies, which could save the time and capabilities of computer required for the numerical solutions

Effects of Aquifer Bed Slope and Sea Level on Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers

The quality of groundwater resources in coastal aquifers is affected by saltwater intrusion. Over-abstraction of groundwater and seawater level rise due to climate change accelerate the intrusion process. This paper investigates the effects of aquifer bed slope and seaside slope on saltwater intrusion. The possible impacts of increasing seawater head due to sea level rise and decreasing groundwater level due to over-pumping and reduction in recharge are also investigated. A numerical model (SEAWAT) is applied to well-known Henry problem to assess the movement of the dispersion zone under different settings of bed and seaside slopes. The results showed that increasing seaside slope increased the intrusion of saltwater by 53.2% and 117% for slopes of 1:1 and 2:1, respectively. Increasing the bed slope toward the land decreased the intrusion length by 2% and 4.8%, respectively. On the other hand, increasing the bed slope toward the seaside increased the intrusion length by 3.6% and 6.4% for bed slopes of 20:1 and 10:1, respectively. The impacts of reducing the groundwater level at the land side and increasing the seawater level at the shoreline by 5% and 10% considering different slopes are studied. The intrusion length increased under both conditions. Unlike Henry problem, the current investigation considers inclined beds and sea boundaries and, hence, provides a better representation of the field conditions

Spatial and Temporal Effects of Irrigation Canals Rehabilitation on the Land and Crop Yields, a Case Study: The Nile Delta, Egypt

Shortage of surface water is considered an international problem that has even extended to countries that have rivers, in particular countries sharing the same river basins and downstream countries, such as Egypt. This issue requires intensive management of available water resources. Irrigation Canals Rehabilitation (ICR) has become essential to protect surface water in irrigation canals from losses due to seepage. Egypt is one of the countries that has started using this technique. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of ICR using concrete on the land and on crop yields. The SEEP/W model is used in the current study to estimate changes in the groundwater table and moisture in the root zone. Three cases studies have been simulated and compared including unlined, lined, and lined canals with a drainage pipe. The methodology is applied to three canals in the Nile Delta: Sero, Dafan, and New-Aslogy. The results demonstrate that ICR has decreased the losses from canals which resulted in lowering the groundwater, where the case of lining gave a higher reduction than the case of lining with a drainage pipe. In addition, the water table underneath the embankment was lowered. Decreasing the groundwater table could help to protect the land from logging and increase crop yields, but it may reduce the recharging of groundwater aquifers. Such a study is highly recommended in arid regions to decrease water losses where many countries are suffering from water shortage

Spatial and Temporal Effects of Irrigation Canals Rehabilitation on the Land and Crop Yields, a Case Study: The Nile Delta, Egypt

Shortage of surface water is considered an international problem that has even extended to countries that have rivers, in particular countries sharing the same river basins and downstream countries, such as Egypt. This issue requires intensive management of available water resources. Irrigation Canals Rehabilitation (ICR) has become essential to protect surface water in irrigation canals from losses due to seepage. Egypt is one of the countries that has started using this technique. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of ICR using concrete on the land and on crop yields. The SEEP/W model is used in the current study to estimate changes in the groundwater table and moisture in the root zone. Three cases studies have been simulated and compared including unlined, lined, and lined canals with a drainage pipe. The methodology is applied to three canals in the Nile Delta: Sero, Dafan, and New-Aslogy. The results demonstrate that ICR has decreased the losses from canals which resulted in lowering the groundwater, where the case of lining gave a higher reduction than the case of lining with a drainage pipe. In addition, the water table underneath the embankment was lowered. Decreasing the groundwater table could help to protect the land from logging and increase crop yields, but it may reduce the recharging of groundwater aquifers. Such a study is highly recommended in arid regions to decrease water losses where many countries are suffering from water shortage

Floating Photovoltaic Plants as an Effective Option to Reduce Water Evaporation in Water-Stressed Regions and Produce Electricity: A Case Study of Lake Nasser, Egypt

Water resources are considered one of the most critical and indispensable elements to ensure the survival of all living organisms on the planet. Since there is a close relationship between water, energy, and food security, this interdependence presents a major global societal challenge. While Egypt is one of the countries that suffers the most from water poverty, it has Lake Nasser which is considered one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, with an estimated area of about 5250 km2. Hence, this work aims to conserve such water resources while addressing two critical issues related to water and energy. To achieve this goal, this study proposed the use of partial coverage technology on Lake Nasser with floating photovoltaic (FPV) panels. The results of the study showed that the partial coverage of Lake Nasser with FPV panels represents a very effective proposal to preserve the water resources of Egypt, which suffers from water poverty. The savings in water evaporation in Lake Nasser reached 61.71% (9,074,081,000 m3/year) and the annual rate of electricity production was 467.99 TWh/year when 50% of the area of Lake Nasser was covered with FPV panels