Numerical investigation on seawater intrusion and water leakage in different types of stratified coastal aquifers

Abstract

Prediction of seawater intrusion (SWI) will increase the proper planning for withdrawal of groundwater, and it will help the freshwater management in the future. Since heterogeneous aquifers are more widespread than homogeneous one, this study aims to use the density-dependent SEAWAT code to investigate the influence of different combinations of hydraulic conductivity (K) on SWI. The effects of numbers and arrangement of layers with different K are examined on (a) toe position, (b) freshwater–seawater mixing zone thickness (Wt) and (c) leakage from adjacent layers in a steady-state condition. For this purpose, numerous scenarios with different K were simulated and analyzed. The results of horizontally layered aquifers showed that the streamlines are broken on boundary of layers. It was observed that when K is decreased, especially at the middle layer, the refraction angle is increased and consequently Wt is increased. The Wt in vertically layered cases was less than horizontally layered aquifers because of less streamline breakage. Also, random arrangement of K directs the saline flow to higher permeability zones. Thus, the SWI extent in this type of aquifer was more tangible than other types. Because of the difference in hydraulic head at layer borders, the seepage rate significantly increases nearby toe position and the dominant direction is upward. However, in the steady-state condition, the type of flow did not differ significantly for boundary cells of layers at the vicinity of toe position.