Pump scheduling at larger groundwater well fields is often based on experience and rather simplistic approaches. Hereby the water works is able to supply the amount requested by the consumers – but not at the lowest price possible. Since the pump yield at each groundwater well is a function of the pump type, pump characteristics, hydrogeological conditions, raw water pipe dimensions, yield and pressure from other wells it is not a trivial task to optimize pump scheduling. Furthermore, raw water quality is also a function of many of the same parameters as well as the water quality conditions and its spatial and temporal variation in the exploited groundwater aquifers.
DHI has developed a tool – MIKE Well Field - that integrates a groundwater model, a pipe model and a pump model in order to support optimisation of groundwater management on well field scale. The tool is furthermore integrated with a data management and information system (DIMS) so that on-line measurements can be assessed and used in the calibration if the models as well as in the operation of the well field.
Operation and management problems to be specifically addressed by MIKE Well Field include:
- Optimisation of pump scheduling to reduce energy consumption, hence providing an economic benefit (reduction of operation costs) as well as an associated environmental benefit.
- Optimisation of pump scheduling and mixing of water from different wells to improve the water quality. This will result in a reduction of the use of chemicals, active carbon etc. for water treatment and reduce operational problems caused by contaminated drinking water.
- Optimisation of water withdrawal to reduce the environmental impacts on surface water (rivers, lakes, and wetland areas) and groundwater bodies.
- Monitoring of water quality and quantity changes, allowing managers to respond quickly, thereby reducing the risk of well-field and water supply contamination.
- Optimisation of performance of pumping systems considering renovation of installed components and changing of operation.
- Optimisation of water resources management within water districts and larger regions by combined management of several well-fields to provide a sustainable utilisation of the groundwater resources.