OPTIMAL WELL LOCATION IN A RIVERBANK FILTRATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Groundwater is a key source of drinking water that is essential to life on earth. Groundwater processes being insidious and complex in nature, modeling plays a pivotal role in the design of groundwater systems. Riverbank filtration (RBF) is a low cost and efficient alternative water treatment for drinking water applications. In an RBF process, as the wells are placed on the banks of the river, they have to be located in such a way that the total cost comes out to be a minimum. In the present study, the efficacy of the genetic algorithm (GA) optimization technique is assessed in estimating the optimal location of well series in an RBF system. Computer codes were developed to obtain the optimum location using GA optimization technique. Optimal location of well series depends on two parameters viz, pumping cost and treatment cost. As the well distance goes on increasing, naturally, the treatment cost decreases but at the same time the power required to pull out the water increases i.e. the pumping cost increases. The objective function in GA is considered to be the reciprocal of total cost inclusive of pumping and treatment costs. It is so chosen that it leads to he maximization of the problem. So, the distance at which the objective function is maximum, the well series has to be located at that point. The results revealed that the GA technique is an efficient and reliable method for estimating the results. Also, it was found that because of its inherent characteristics, GA avoids the subjectivity, long computation time often associated with traditional optimization technique. The GA based computer programs are user friendly and conserve as a research tool for many practitioners.