Title: Development of a coupled flow and solute transport modelling for Astaneh-Kouchesfahan groundwater resources, North of Iran

Authors: Masoud Saatsaz; Wan Nor Azmin Sulaiman; Saeid Eslamian; Saman Javadi

Addresses: Department of Geology, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), 45195-1159 IASBS Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran ' Department of Environmental Science, University Putra of Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Water Department, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 8415683111, Iran ' Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Department, Water Research Institute, Tehran 1658954381, Iran

Abstract: Astaneh-Kouchesfahan Plain is an important source of groundwater in Northern Iran. In the study area, rational management of groundwater resources requires a precise evaluation of groundwater flow and transport components. For this purpose, a 2-dimentional groundwater flow and solute transport model was developed and calibrated using PMWIN 5.3. Simulation results under steady-state and transient conditions show that the horizontal hydraulic conductivity values range from 1 to 23 m/day; and the specific yield values range between 0.03 and 0.25. After construction groundwater flow model, in order to simulate and predict chloride transport in the study area, a 2-D solute transport model for the aquifer has been developed, calibrated and validated using MT3D. The predictive simulation from October 2009 to October 2012 shows that according to present recharge and discharge conditions, groundwater salinities will increase and in the mid and long-term, groundwater consumers will be facing a worse situation than the present.

Keywords: groundwater simulation; hydrogeology; Iran; MT3D; numerical simulation; PMWIN; flow modelling; solute transport modelling; hydraulic conductivity; chloride transport; groundwater salinity; water quality; water pollution; groundwater quality; groundwater pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2013.051980

International Journal of Water, 2013 Vol.7 No.1/2, pp.80 - 103

Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article