Modelagem e simulação do escoamento em aqüíferos livres sotopostos a zonas urbanas

Abstract

This study discusses the mathematical modeling of groundwater flows, and the bases for the development of a numerical model that simulates the flow in unconfined aquifers, affected by singularities like wells and interconnected streams. The main application of the model is directed to urban areas with water wells. Numerical approximations are used to estimate changes of the piezometric levels, groundwater drawdowns and water flow rates in the aquifer caused by simultaneous pumping from multiple wells. In this study, we used the finite differences method for the numerical treatment of the differential governing equation. In this context, all spatial derivatives were discretized by central differences of the second order. Two explicit schemes were used for the treatment of the temporal derivative: the first order Euler scheme, and the fourth order Adams-Bashforth scheme. Two schemes were also used to model the sinks, that is the extraction of water by the wells. The results of these two schemes are compared with a hybrid model that uses analytical solutions in small areas within the radius of influence of the wells, a numerical solution in the remaining area. As a case study, the model is applied to our area situated in the urban fabric of the city of Araguari (MG), in the area of the Bauru aquifer. The model has the potential to help future guidelines for the management of the free aquifers underlying urban areas, intending its best use, and indicating possible saturation places of exploitation.