Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)

Water Resource Management

Roko Andrievi, University of Split, Croatia
Igor Jankovi, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Outline
Definition
Various approaches
Effect of parameters on capture zone
geometry
Inherent assumptions
Surface water capture zones
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Capture zones / Capture Areas
Defined as the volume of the aquifer from
which an extracting well or surface water
body obtains its water for a given period
of time
May be used for
Source water protection
Pollution impact assessment
Designing pump and treat systems
Identifying interacting surface water bodies
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Source Water Protection
EPA-mandated delineation of Well head
protection areas (WHPAs) for wells that
may be used as a source of drinking water
1994 Amendment to the safe drinking water
act required WHPAs for all drinking water
sources by May 2003
These zones are later used for policy
decisions regarding land use
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Capture Zone Delineation:
Modeling Approaches
There are multiple approaches for capture
zone delineation of varying accuracy and
complexity
The dixie cup approach (very simple analytic
method)
Analytic solutions
Numerical particle tracking methods
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The dixie cup approach
A.K.A. the Calculated fixed radius approach
Assume that the capture zone of the well is
circular
Based upon assumption that regional flow is
negligible
Capture zone radius given by
Can be grossly incorrect
h
Qt
r =
Where Q=pumping rate t =time
h=avg. aquifer thickness =porosity
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The dixie cup approach
5 years
10 years
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More advanced approaches
Use analytical models of capture zones in
uniform flow
Todd, 1980
More accurate in general
Limited by assumption of regional flow
effects only
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Well in Uniform Flow
Superimposed solution for well and
uniform flow:
Can easily calculate capture zone
dimensions from this expression
C y x
Q
x Q
w
+ + + =
2 2
0
ln
2
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Qo
Qw
0
Q
Q
w
0
4Q
Q
w
0
2 Q
Q
w

Stagnation
point
Capture zone for specific time period
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More Advanced Approaches
Use numerical models to calculate capture
zones by modeling local system and
backtracking particles from the well
Steady state models often used
Finite difference-based solutions for complex
layered 3D Aquifer
Visual Bluebird
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Capture zones: Effects of
Parameters
Given the same system, capture zones
Widen with increased pumping rate,
decreased uniform flow
Lengthen with increased conductivity
In systems with recharge, capture zones
have finite extent
All captured water comes from recharge
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Effect of pumping rate
Q / 2
Q
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Effect of decreased conductivity
K=0.1 m/d K=0.05 m/d
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Effect of increased conductivity
K=0.1 m/d K=0.15 m/d
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Effect of heterogeneity in K
K=0.1 m/d K=0.15 m/d
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Effect of recharge
Causes CZ to taper to a point- all water
captured is from recharge
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Considerations & Assumptions
Capture zones may not be completely
reflective of actual system
Pathlines are 2D only
Recharge / Leakage has an unseen effect in
two-dimensional capture zones
Transient flow not accounted for
Heterogeneity often not accounted for
An intelligent factor of safety may be
required
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Conceptual model: 3D effects
With recharge, backtracked particles start
outside of aquifer
Depending upon starting location of backtracked particle, source
location is different
This results in a truncated capture zone
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Conceptual model- Steady-state
Qo
Qw
General flow direction is assumed known and constant,
pumping rate is constant over time
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Conceptual model-Transient Effects
Qo?
Qw
Effective transient wellhead protection zone may be defined
as the union of all realistic possible capture zones
This approach may also be used to
incorporate unknown values of conductivity
For pump and treat, the effective capture zone
should be the intersection of possible CZs
Water Resource Management, Groundwater Capture Zones (optional)
Surface water capture zones
In addition to well capture zones, surface water
capture zones may be identified with models
Similar approach- backtrack particles from
surface water boundary
Helpful in determining
Groundwatershed boundaries
Impacts of pollution on surface water bodies
Surface water protection areas
Areas of high susceptibility to surface pollution
Connections between surface water bodies
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Surface Water Capture Zones
Backtracked particles may be
used to identify the portion of
the aquifer (and other rivers)
feeding a given stream reach
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Surface water capture zones
Same precautions must be taken (as with
wellhead protection areas)
Consider possible 3D effects
Incorporate possible effects of heterogeneity
Consider possible transient effects