Groundwater Modeling – 2:

Computer Implementation
Groundwater Hydraulics

Daene C. McKinney

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 Groundwater Vistas
• Groundwater Modeling
Environment
– Graphic User Interface (GUI) for
MODFLOW and other models
– Imports a wide variety of files
• MODFLOW data sets
• ArcView shapefiles
• Digitized map files (AutoCAD DXF,
Shapefiles, and SURFER)
• GroundwaterVistas is not
MODFLOW (but includes it)
• MODFLOW has no Graphic
User Interface (GUI)

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 Groundwater Vistas Initiatin
• In Virtual Workspace
https://appd.engr.utexas.edu/appdportal/

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 Groundwater Vistas
• Start Groundwater Vistas

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 Unit System
• Use a consistent set of units for all data
• Select a unit of length and time
– Hydraulic conductivity (K) in m/s
– Pumping rates (Q) in m3/s
– Length units in m
– Elevations in m

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 Example Pumping Well

• Boundaries 10 m Layer 1

5 13
– North & South: No-flow -3 m
Layer 2

-8 m
– East & West: Constant-head
• Layer 1 – unconfined (13 m)
– Kh = 5x10-3 m/s No-flow Boundary

– Kv = 5x10-4 m/s N

Constant Head Boundary (h = 9 m)

Constant Head Boundary (h = 8 m)

• Layer 2 – confined (5 m)
– Kh = 1x10-3 m/s; Kv = 1x10-4 m/s
Pumping Well

600 m

No-flow Boundary
Adapted from Chiang, W-H and W. Kinzelbach, Processing Modflow: A 600 m 6
Simulation System For Modeling Groundwater Flow and Pollution, 1996
 Create a New Model
• Start the GV program
• Select File  New

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 Create a New Model
• Enter basic information
– 30 rows
– 30 columns
– Row spacing = 20 m
– Column spacing = 20 m
– 2 layers
– Model bottom elevation = -8
– Model top elevation = 10 ss
e
– Top of Layer 1 = 10 m Pr
– Top of Layer 2 = -3 m
– Bottom of Layer 2 = -8 m

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Model Grid

Elevation = +10 m

Elevation = -3 m

Elevation = -8

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 Add Constant Head Boundary Conditions
• Select: Layer 1
• Select: BCs  Constant Head Boundary
• Select: BCs  Insert  Window
• Hold left Mouse button and Drag cursor through
cells in Column 1
• Set value to 9 m
Press OK
Constant Head
Boundary Cells
(h = 9 m)

Top Layer - 1

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Repeat for Boundary in Column 30
• Select: Layer 1
• Select: BCs  Constant Head Boundary
• Select: BCs  Insert  Window
• Hold left Mouse button and Drag cursor
through cells in Column 30
• Set value to 8 m Constant Head
Boundary Cells
(h = 8 m)

Top Layer - 1

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 Repeat for Layer 2
• Select: Layer 2
• Select: BCs  Constant Head Boundary
• Select: BCs  Insert  Window
• Hold left Mouse button and Drag cursor Constant Head
through cells in Columns 1 and 30 Boundary Cells
• Set values to 9 and 8 m (h = 8 m)

Bottom Layer - 2

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 Add Hydraulic Conductivity
• Select: Props  Hydraulic Conductivity
• Select: Property Values  Database
• Set up 2 zones:
– Layer 1
• Kx = 5x10-3 m/s
• Ky = 5x10-3 m/s
• Kz = 5x10-4 m/s
– Layer 2
• Kx= 1x10-3 m/s
• Ky = 1x10-3 m/s
• Kz = 1x10-4 m/s
• Click OK

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 Assign K to Layer 1
• Select: Layer 1
• Select: Props  Hydraulic Conductivity
• Select: Props  Set Value or Zone  Window
• Start in upper right-hand corner and drag to select all cells in grid
• Select: OK
• Select: Zone Number 1
• Select: OK

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 Assign K to Layer 2
• Select: Layer 2
• Select: Props  Hydraulic Conductivity
• Select: Props  Set Value or Zone  Window
• Start in upper right-hand corner and drag to select all cells in grid
• Select: OK
• Select: Zone Number 2
• Select: OK

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 Pumping Well

Add Multi-Layer Well Layer 1

Layer 2

• Well penetrates all layers

• Total pumping rate for multilayer well is sum of pumping from
layers
• Pumping for each layer (Qi) is proportional to layer
transmissivity (biKi)
b1K1 b2 K 2
Q1 = Qtotal Q2 = Qtotal
b1K1 + b2 K 2 b1K1 + b2 K 2

• For a total pumping rate of Qtotal = 0.02 m3/s

– Q1 = 0.0185 m3/s b1 = 13m, K1 = 5x10-3 m/s
b2 = 5m, K2= 1x10-3 m/s
– Q2 = 0.0015 m3/s 16
 Add Well in Layer 1
• Select: Layer 1
• Select: BCs  Well
• Select: BCs  Insert  Single Cell
• Use cursor to click on cell at Row 15, Col. 25
Row 15, Column 25
• Enter “Flow Rate in Well” = - 0.0185 m3/s
• Select: OK

Note Top Layer - 1

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 Add Well in Layer 2
• Select: Layer 2
• Select: BCs  Well
• Select: BCs  Insert  Single Cell
• Use cursor to click on cell at Row 15, Col. 25
Row 15, Column 25
• Enter “Flow Rate in Well” = - 0.0015 m3/s
• Select: OK

Note Bottom Layer - 2

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 Create MODFLOW Dataset
• Select: Model  MODFLOW  Package Options
• Select: Time Units = seconds
• Select: Length Units = meters

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 Create MODFLOW Dataset
• Select: Model  MODFLOW  Package Options
• Select: Tab  Initial Heads
• Enter: 0 ft for both Layers

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 Create MODFLOW Dataset
• Select: Model  MODFLOW  Package Options
• Select: Tab  BCF-LPF
• Select: Layer 1 as “Unconfined”
• Select: Layer 2 as “Confined”

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 Create MODFLOW Dataset
• Select: Model  MODFLOW  Package Options
• Select: Tab  Recharge - ET
• Select: Top Layer Only
• Select: OK

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 Run Simulation
• Select: Calculator button
• Select: Yes, Yes, Yes!

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 Process Results
• Select: Cell-by-cell flows

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 Results
• Select: Plot  Contour
 Parameters (Plan)
• Set parameters to
achieve the display you
like

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 Set Display Options
• Select: Plot  What to display
• Select: Display Color Flood of Head
• Select: Display Legend
• Select: OK

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 Set Legend Options
• Select: Plot  Legend  Options
• Select: Contents
• Select: Color Flood Scale
• Select: Dry Cells
• Select: Title
• Select: Title Font = 10 bold
• Select: Text Font = 10
• Select: OK

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Results

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 Results
• Look for the file ‘Ex1.lst” in the directory that you specified for the “working
directory” (e.g., C:\gv5\models).
• Look for the following table and make sure you get the same (or close) numbers

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