W-Sahara: Stochastic modelling of well catchments

The determination of well catchments is an important prerequisite to effective protection measures of the resource. Its determination is required by law. The deterministic approach to catchments is riddled with uncertainty due to unknown underground heterogeneity and recharge distribution. Therefore a stochastic approach is suggested and developed in which the probability of a point on the surface to belong to the catchment is mapped instead of a deterministic catchment boundary. The sequential stochastic self-calibration method was used extensively. In parallel, a semi-analytic post-processing method was developed, which can be used with any deterministic model. Other groups in this European project used different approaches. In the end all methods were compared on the basis of a number of benchmarks.

More information about the project can be found in the following posters:

• Stochastic Characterization of Drinking Water Well Capture Zones
• Stochastic Characterization of Well Catchments: Semi-analytical Lagrangian Approach

Main publications

Stauffer, F., S. Attinger, S. Zimmermann, W. Kinzelbach, 2002. Uncertainty estimation of well catchments in heterogeneous aquifers, Water Resources Research, 38(11), p. 20.1-20.8.

Contacts

F. Stauffer, H. Hendricks-Franssen

Agency/Funding

EU/259 kCHF

Partners

University of Tübingen
TU Delft
Imperial College London
Politecnico di Milano
University of Strasbourg

Status

Finished in 2004

See other past research projects