Evaluation of Maydavood_Dallan Aquifer in Various Management Scenarios Using a Mathematical Model

Decreased rainfall and increased discharge from aquifers affected by industrial and agricultural development have put double pressure on groundwater resources. Therefore, new water management methods, particularly in aquifers, are essential. Groundwater models are practical tools for investigating and predicting changes in aquifer storage volume. They can analyze and evaluate the future conditions of an aquifer in different management scenarios. In this study, the Modflow code in GMS software was used to develop an aquifer model for the Maydavood_Dallan plain. The model was calibrated for 12 months from September 2013 to September 2014 and validated for the next six months. Various scenarios were applied to the model, such as drought, wet conditions, a 25% reduction in discharge, and a combined effect of drought and increased Aquifer discharge, to investigate the effects of water stresses on the aquifer. According to the study results, the groundwater budget of the Maydavood_Dallan aquifer for the water year 93-92 was about 2.6 million cubic meters. The groundwater budget values for the drought, wet conditions, and discharge reduction by 25% scenarios were estimated at 1.828, 3.161, and 3.341 million cubic meters, respectively. For the drought with a 15% increase in discharge scenario, the groundwater balance was estimated at 1.5466 million cubic meters. In general, according to these results, the groundwater balance in the studied aquifer is always a positive value by applying different scenarios.