16 Heterogeneous Geologic Formations: Modeling Spatial Variability

Thursday, 29 March 2012
3:00 PM - 4:40 PM
Goyesco 1

MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF CHIHUAHUA-SACRAMENTO, TABALAOPA-ALDAMA AND EL SAUZ-ENCINILLAS AQUIFERS USING VISUAL MODFLOW

Paper number: 16-1
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM

Authors

Abstract

Aquifers, a main water supply for the Chihuahua-desert population centers, steadily are under deep and detailed research for geohydrology groups of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua.

Continued expansion of the Chihuahua-city urban areas, (809,232 inhabitants in 2010), have presented a growing challenge for drinking water supply. In addition, high evapotranspiration and low rainfall (historical record of 386 mm/year) greatly affect aquifers recharge.

Chihuahua-Sacramento, Tabalaopa-Aldama and El Sauz-Encinillas aquifers from Central Chihuahua State are constantly drilled due to fresh-water growing demand. An extraction volume of 269.5 Mm3/year on a 5360 km2 of surficial area increasingly diminishes water accesibility potential.

Groundwater natural contaminants emerge as a result of continued extraction and low recharge of aquifers. Consequently, decreasing phreatic level becomes in higher water-extraction and drilling costs.

This study presents some of the construction of a mathematical model of groundwater flow from three aquifers. Implementing a numerical code VISUAL MODFLOW will provide a way to predict joint groundwater levels behavior, being able to know water resource availability and to locate drawdown areas in the future.