1. A modelling approach to improving water security in a drought-prone area, West Coast, South Africa.
- Author
-
Zhang, Heng, Xu, Yongxin, and Kanyerere, Thokozani
- Subjects
- *
WATER security , *GROUNDWATER recharge , *DROUGHT management , *WATER shortages , *COASTS , *SMALL cities - Abstract
Due to severe droughts and rapid urbanization, Cape Town municipality including small towns along the West Coast of South Africa are facing water shortages. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) seems to offer a solution to improve water security in this drought-prone area. This paper presents a conceptual framework within which numerical modelling of the aquifers system is operated to improve water security of West Coast. The ModelMuse software that included MODFLOW and MODPATH packages was used. Scenarios which considered recharge aspects were used to evaluate suitable sites and appropriate scheme of implementing MAR. The result showed that it is feasible to implement MAR in the upper unconfined aquifer unit (UAU) which had estimated available space for MAR of 915.7 million m3. For the semi-confined lower aquifer unit (LAU), the clay-missing window area located at west of Hopefield was a suitable site to implement MAR. However, the prevailing little space in LAU to store recharged water was a limiting factor to support the implementation of MAR scheme. Details on the possibility of implementing MAR scheme for West Coast aquifers system were discussed based of the simulations that were carried out. Although the modelling approach does not provide precise areas but a management tool, it provides key insights that are applicable in aquifer systems of similar characteristics. • It is feasible to implement managed aquifer recharge in the upper unconfined aquifer unit. • The available space for recharge in the upper unconfined aquifer is 915.7 million m3. • Infiltration pond with infiltration rate of 0.003 m/d at the west of Hopefield is suggested. • The clay-missing window is suitable site to artificial recharge the confined lower aquifer unit.. • There is little space to support managed aquifer recharge in the confined lower aquifer at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF