Experimental Analysis of Intermittent Pumping Effects on Seawater Intrusion

Abstract Time fluctuations of groundwater flux are known to affect solute transport and thus the width penetration seawater intrusion. Yet, most theoretical laboratory studies mixed‐convective processes accompanying intrusion assume constant extraction rates, even though real‐world pumping is usually intermittent. In this study, dynamic changes an experimental saltwater wedge caused by intermittent were explored using sand tank experiments numerical simulation. Three different aquifer systems assessed: a homogeneous unconfined aquifer, two stratified (aquifer‐aquitard‐aquifer), with latter having aquitard lower permeability. Both fully partially penetrating wells used. The effects period no‐pumping explored, nine performed in total. overall finding that impact non‐trivial. Under conditions, where head was prescribed inland (representative surface water body) allowed larger volumes freshwater be extracted before well salinization. This reflects non‐pumping periods allow recover. Additional modeling, which reproduced reasonably observations, showed salinization could avoided altogether sufficient recovery. Numerical models also used compare for same total rate, showing earlier compared pumping, although contained greater mass salt under pumping.