Optimization of groundwater abstraction from a coastal aquifer

An analytical mathematical model, based on Jacobian elliptic functions, has been used to identify feasible wellfield locations and pumping rates for large-scale abstraction from an unconfined coastal aquifer. The choice of optimum feasible wellfield strategy has been made using a simple economic model which calculates the cost of the pipelines required to transport the abstracted groundwater to a large coastal city which forms the demand centre. Results indicate that the cheapest wellfield design would be a single large wellfield. However, because of the need to maintain at least a minimum supply in the city until a new surface water source is developed, a better solution may well be to develop two smaller wellfields pumping a greater total abstraction.