Restoration management of groundwater resources using the combined model of numerical simulation - evolutionary ant colony optimization

Groundwater storages are the main-source of water in Iran. With the developments in technology, utilization of these resources has been increased severely over the last few decades as the extracted water is more than the capacity of renewable water and has led to a depletion in groundwater-levels, a deterioration of these resources and associated negative consequences. Hence, the proper management of these valuable resources and the sustainability conservation are significant. Today, for proper management of groundwater resources, decision models can be used with a combined framework of simulation-optimization models. Therefore, in this research, using numerical simulation model (MODFLOW) over the management horizon of ten-years and ant-colony-optimization-algorithm, simulation-optimization model for the Namdan aquifer located in Fars province, Iran was developed. Three indices of sustainability, filling and restoration of the aquifer are considered to restoration management of groundwater resources in the study area, in line with Iran aquifer restoration plan. Based on the objective of reaching to the best condition of stability, filling, and restoration of the aquifer over the management horizon, the results has been indicated an increase of 3, 9.5 and 10.6 m of groundwater-level, respectively, compared to the beginning of the management horizon, which highlighted the necessity of proper-selection of objective-function considering the main objectives of the management plan and provided the feasibility of assessment on the requirements to implement the plan. Also, the use of three-indicators of reliability, utility and vulnerability to examine the results of scenarios shows the best aquifer status under scenario of applying the restoration-index.