Dear Member,

I am pleased to inform that I have recently completed
the study "Modelling of a Coastal Aquifer using
FEFLOW". A brief introduction of the study is given
below.

Coastal tracts of Goa (India) are rapidly being
transformed into settlement areas. The poor water
supply facilities have encouraged people to have their
own source of water by digging or boring a well.
During the last decade, there have been large-scale
withdrawals of groundwater by builders, hotels and
other tourist establishments. Though the seawater
intrusion has not yet assumed serious magnitude, but
in the coming years it may turn to be a major problem
if corrective measures are not initiated at this
stage. It is necessary to understand how fresh and
salt water move under various realistic pumping and
recharge scenarios. Objectives of the study include
simulation of seawater intrusion in a part of the
coastal area in Bardez taluk of North Goa, evaluation
of the impact on seawater intrusion due to various
groundwater pumping scenarios and sensitivity analysis
to find the most sensitive parameters affecting the
simulation.

For the study, a finite-element model (FEFLOW) was
used for model simulations. The FEFLOW is an
interactive finite element simulation system (Version
5.1) for three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional
(2D), i.e. horizontal (aquifer-averaged), vertical or
axi-symmetric, transient or steady-state, fluid
density- coupled or linear, flow and mass, flow and
heat or completely coupled thermohaline transport
processes in subsurface water resources (groundwater
systems).

Salient conclusions of the study are given below.

(1) Presently, seawater intrusion in Bardez taluk of
North Goa is confined only upto 290 m from the coast
under normal rainfall conditions and present draft
pattern. It may slightly extend farther for low
rainfall years.

(2) Seawater intrusion may further advance inland if
withdrawals of groundwater by builders, hotels and
other tourist establishments continue to increase in
the coming years.

(3) Groundwater salinity needs to be continuously
monitored near the coastal area, especially within 2
km from the coast.

(4) Corrective measures with proper planning and
management of groundwater resources in the area need
to be initiated so that it may not turn to be a major
water quality problem in the coming times.

(5) The model is very sensitive to hydraulic
conductivity and dispersivity values. Field and
laboratory investigations need to be undertaken for
measurement of these parameters for use in further
modelling studies.

(6) The study will guide in making management
decisions to monitor and control seawater intrusion
and planning of groundwater development in the area.

I can send the complete report (in pdf format) by
e-mail to the interested persons. Your comments or
suggestions are welcome.

Regards
Kumar
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C. P. KUMAR
Scientist 'E1'
National Institute of Hydrology
Jal Vigyan Bhawan
Roorkee - 247667 (Uttarakhand)
INDIA

Web Page : http://www.angelfire.com/nh/cpkumar/
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