Abstract. The inverse problem of groundwater flow is treated with an automatic method that can produce several alternative solutions at once. During their joint optimization, these solutions can exchange information in order to maintain some diversity and thus avoid a systematic premature convergence toward a single local minimum. Although genetic algorithms are capable of doing this, they have not often been used in groundwater inverse optimization. First, a specific multipopulation genetic algorithm is developed. It is then tested on two synthetic cases of steady state flow with transmissivity values extending over 4 orders of magnitude. The first test is nonparametric and optimizes as many parameters as those used to define the reference case. The second test uses a sort of "pilot point" parametrization. The optimization is carried out on a limited number of perturbations that are interpolated and superimposed on an initial transmissivity field. In view of the good quality of the results, these initial attempts provide incentives to further develop genetic algorithms in groundwater inverse problems.
In this paper, a groundwater resources management problem has been studied, namely pumping cost minimization for any number and layout of wells. Steady state flow in infinite and semi-infinite confined aquifers, to which the method of images applies, has been considered. It has been proved analytically that when pumping cost is minimized, hydraulic head is the same at all wells. Based on this proof, an analytical calculation procedure of the respective optimal distribution of the required total flow rate to the individual wells is also presented.Abbreviations h J distance between water level et well J and the predefined reference level (m) N number of wells Q J flow rate of well J (l/s) or (m 3 /s) Q T total flow rate pumped from the system of N wells (l/s) R radius of influence of the system of wells (m) r 0 well radius (m) r IJ distance between wells I and J (m) s J drawdown of hydraulic head at well J, due to the operation of the system of the wells (m) T aquifer transmissivity (m 2 /s) δ distance between the initial horizontal level of the hydraulic head and the predefined reference level (m)Water Resour Manage (
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