Application of the Digital Computer for Aquifer Evaluation

TLDR

Unsteady‑state flow in confined aquifers can be approximated by linear, parabolic partial‑differential equations. A digital‑computer program using an implicit finite‑difference technique was applied to model the Musquodoboit Harbour aquifer, with parameters tuned to fit pump‑test data and validated against an electric analog model. Calculated values matched analytical solutions for simple aquifers, and the model predicts equilibrium in about 100 days, indicating sufficient water supply for Musquodoboit Harbour, with results corroborated by the electric analog.

Abstract

The unsteady‐state flow of a fluid in a confined aquifer can be approximated by linear, parabolic, partial‐differential equations. A digital‐computer program was written to solve these equations based upon an implicit finite‐difference technique. Calculated values compared favorably with analytical solutions for homogeneous, isotropic aquifers of simple geometry. An analysis of an aquifer at Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, was made using this technique. Aquifer parameters in the digital model were modified until the results computed fitted the pump‐test data. The results indicate that this aquifer would come to equilibrium in about 100 days and would easily provide an adequate supply of water for the village of Musquodoboit Harbour. As a check of the digital model for this problem an electric analog of this aquifer was also constructed; the two solutions obtained compared favorably.