2007 Ground Water Summit

Monday, April 30, 2007 : 10:50 a.m.

Addressing Hydrogeologic Uncertainties in Modeling Well Field Protection Boundaries in a Karst Aquifer: A Case Study from Southeastern Florida, U.S.A

Hillol Guha, Ph.D., PG, Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc

Uncertainties exist as to how well the available data from limited monitoring locations are able to define a heterogeneous shallow aquifer, such as the Biscayne Aquifer in Miami‑Dade County, Florida.  Developing a deterministic numerical model to account for the uncertainties of hydrogeologic parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and storativity is not adequate to address capture-zone probability near a high capacity well field.  This is particularly the case when a higher conductive horizontal flow zone is present.  One such highly conductive zone was detected during a forced-gradient Rhodamine WT tracer test, in the Biscayne Aquifer, which accounts for a substantial flux within the aquifer.  Not accounting for the potential effect of the high-flow zone in the aquifer within a ground-water flow numerical model may underpredict the well-field protection capture boundaries of such hydrogeologic conditions.  Because of the heterogeneous nature of the zone, it is difficult to accurately determine a unique hydraulic conductivity and storativity for this zone, making accurate travel time estimates difficult.  Applied stochastic ground-water modeling in determining well field protection zones is becoming increasingly important in addressing the uncertainties of the hydrogeologic subsurface parameters, especially in fractured heterogeneous aquifers.  One such stochastic ground-water modeling application, along with combination of pilot points and regularization technique, is presented here with respect to hydraulic conductivity within a narrow high-flow zone in the Northwest Well Field, Miami-Dade County, Florida. 

Hillol Guha, Ph.D., PG, Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc Dr. Guha is a Senior Hydrogeologist/Modeler in the Shelton, Connecticut office of Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc. (LBG), a professional ground-water and environmental engineering services firm. He specializes in water supply development, testing, effluent disposal and reuse, contaminant transport, ground-water and surface water modeling. Previously, Dr. Guha was a Senior Hydrogeologic Modeler for Miami-Dade County, Florida, where he developed regional and local integrated ground-water/surface water models for wellfield protection programs and salinity intrusion impacts. He has also worked on numerous Department of Energy funded projects such as bioremediation of heavy metals and radionuclides, and has developed reactive transport codes integrating hydrogeology, biology, and geochemistry. Dr. Guha has published many of his work in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Guha is a Certified Professional Hydrologist by the American Institute of Hydrology and a Certified Professional Geologist by the American State Board of Geologists in Florida. He has a B.S. degree in Geology from the University of Calcutta, an M.S. degree in Applied Geology from the Indian Institute of Technology, and an M.S. degree in Hydrogeology from Western Michigan University. He received his Ph.D. in Hydrogeology from Florida International University. He is a member of the American Institute of Hydrology, Geological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, and the National Groundwater Association.


The 2007 Ground Water Summit