Groundwater Exchange Pools and Urban Water Supply Sustainability: Modeling Directed and Undirected Networks
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 144, Issue 8
Abstract
Groundwater basins are important sources of water supply and storage for many cities. Groundwater exchange pools offer additional opportunities for utilizing these common pool resources, but their potential role in urban water management is not clear, and modeling such exchanges can be challenging. This paper presents an analysis of the potential for groundwater basin exchange pools to contribute to urban water supply sustainability. Building on an existing model of urban water management in Los Angeles, the analysis assesses the potential for groundwater exchange pools to reduce scarcity and demonstrates a method for modeling two-way (undirected) flows within a directed-network model using linear programming. Results indicate that exchange pools can help alleviate shortages from operational changes (reduced imported water) in Los Angeles, but providing more parties with access to storage improves their effectiveness. Exchange pools could potentially provide 6–12% of total supplies and reduce shortages as much as 86%. Considerations for organizing exchange pools are discussed to explore policy implications for managing common pool resources. The analytical method for embedding undirected network flows within a larger directed-network model has wide applicability for water resource systems analysis applications, including modeling water markets and interbasin transfers.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported through grants from the US National Science Foundation Water, Sustainability, and Climate program (NSF Award No. 1204235) and the LA Bureau of Sanitation.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 144 • Issue 8 • August 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 2, 2017
Accepted: Jan 17, 2018
Published online: May 26, 2018
Published in print: Aug 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Oct 26, 2018
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