Optimal Pumping for Aquifer Dewatering

A method is presented for determining the optimal well locations and steady-state pumping scheme for dewatering a site. It uses the finite difference approximations of the ground-water differential equation as constraints in a linear programming model. The method was used to determine optimal well distributions and steady-state pumping patterns for dewatering a dry dock excavation site. Because the currently available LP method is restricted to steady-state solutions, auxiliary use was made of the preceding transient numerical model to predict dewatering times. Further development of the transient versions of the LP model is in progress. Solutions of alternate optimization problems may be achieved readily. For example, it might be desirable to restrict the number of wells or restrict their locations. It might be desirable to consider economic factors. Such solutions may be achieved with modifications of constraints or objective functions.