Wh. Liu et al., Optimization of intermittent pumping schedules for aquifer remediation using a genetic algorithm, J AM WAT RE, 36(6), 2000, pp. 1335-1348
Citations number
45
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
Using a genetic algorithm (GA), optimal intermittent pumping schedules were
established to simulate pump-and-treat remediation of a contaminated aquif
er with known hydraulic limitations and a water miscible contaminant, locat
ed within the Duke Forest in Durham, North Carolina. The objectives of the
optimization model were to minimize total costs, minimize health risks,and
maximize the amount of contaminant removed from the aquifer. Stochastic gro
und water and contaminant transport models were required to provide estimat
es of contaminant concentrations at pumping wells. Optimization model simul
ations defined a tradeoff curve between the pumping cost and the amount of
contaminant extracted from the aquifer. For this specific aquifer/miscible
contaminant combination, the model simulations indicated that pump-and-trea
t remediation using intermittent pumping schedules for each pumping well pr
oduced significant reductions in predicted contaminant concentrations and a
ssociated health risks at a reasonable cost, after a remediation time of tw
o years.