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Abstract
An optimal pumping policy during groundwater extraction ensures the sustainability of groundwater resources. In this paper, a coupled finite element-particle swarm simulation–optimization model is implemented to assess the optimal pumping policy in a confined heterogeneous anisotropic synthetic aquifer. Pumping wells are set up in the aquifer to meet a specified water demand. The objective is to find the optimum number and pumping discharges of these wells such that their collective drawdown is minimized while meeting the demand at a reasonable cost. Constraints on the maximum allowable pumping discharge and the location of the wells are also imposed. After analysing the aquifer behaviour in the presence of 8, 9 and 10 pumping wells, the optimal number of wells is selected. The coupled FEM-PSO model also predicts the spatial distribution of the wells that incur the minimum cost for installation and pumping to a specified storage location. Adequate tuning of the PSO parameters involving population size, inertia weight, acceleration constants and number of iterations is performed to arrive at their optimal values.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.