1-Management of South Chennai Coastal Aquifer System - A Multi Objective Approach.

Abstract

Many coastal areas in the world are dependent on local fresh groundwater resources because of heavy urbanization. Due to constant pumping and improper management, the South Chennai aquifer is facing a severe threat of being contaminated by seawater. In order to study the extent of seawater intrusion, the parameter C1/(HCO3+CO3) is taken as a solute and the indicator of seawater intrusion and analyzed through SEA WA T Model calibration has been carried out using the data pertaining to the period 1990-2002. Model prediction has been done upto the year 2010 with management strategies such as modernizing existing tanks, construction of a semi pervious barrier and optimization of pumping quantities. Management of seawater intrusion is a multi objective decision problem. The problem has been formulated as a multi objective optimization problem consisting of two objectives such as maximization of pumping and minimization of total cost of desalination considering the constraints on water levels and pumping. Multi objective interactions between the various trade-offs have been analysed using multi objective evolutionary algorithm.