232 Processing Modflow

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Folder: \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\

Overview of the Problem

A river flows through a valley (Fig. 6.7) which is bounded to the north and south by impermeable
granitic intrusions. The hydraulic heads at the upstream and downstream fixed-head boundaries
are known (which are saved in a data file). The river forms part of a permeable unconfined
aquifer system (horizontal hydraulic conductivity Kh = 5 m/day, vertical hydraulic conductivity
Kv = 0.5 m/day, specific yield Sy = 0.05, effective porosity ne= 0.2) which overlies a confined
aquifer of a variable thickness (Kh = 2 m/day, Kv= 1 m/day, specific storage Ss = 5 × 10 -5, ne =
0.25). A 2 m thick silty layer (Kh = 0.5 m/day, Kv = 0.05 m/day, ne = 0.25) separates the two
aquifers. The elevations of the aquifer tops and bottoms are known (and saved in data files).
Three pumping wells pumping at 500 m3/day each abstract water from the confined aquifer.
Your task is to construct a 3 layer groundwater flow model of the area including the river
and the pumping wells and to assess the capture zone of the wells.

Fig. 6.7 Model area

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Processing Modflow 233

Step 1: Create a New Model

< To create a new model

1. Select File < New Model...
2. In the New Model dialog box, change the working folder to \pm5\examples\T2 (create the
folder, if it does not exist) and enter T2 as the name of the new model.
3. Click OK to exit the dialog box.

Step 2: Define Model Size

< To define the size of the model

1. Select Grid < Mesh Size...
2. In the Model Dimension dialog box enter,
Layers Number 3
Columns Number 27
Size 250
Rows Number 20
Size 250
3. Click OK to exit this dialog box.

You are now in the Grid Editor of the PMWIN. To help visualize the problem we can overlay
a DXF file as a map, which gives us the locations of the boundaries and the pumping wells.

< To load a map

1. Select Options < Maps… to open the Map Options dialog box.
2. Click the box beside the space for the DXF filename to activate that particular map (it is also
possible to choose a color by clicking on the colored square.
3. In the first filename field of DXF-files, click the right mouse button to bring up the Map
Files dialog box.
4. Choose BASEMAP2.DXF from the folder \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\, click OK to
exit the dialog box.
5 Click OK to exit the Map Options dialog box.
You will see that it does not match the grid that you have generated.

< To move the grid

1. Select Options < Environment... to open the Environment Options dialog box.
2. Enter X0= 200 and Y0=6000 and click OK to exit the dialog box.

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

234 Processing Modflow
3. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Step 3: Refine Model Grid

< To refine the model grid

1. Select Grid < Mesh Size.
2. Refine the mesh around each of the three wells by halving the size of the following rows and
columns:
Columns 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
Rows 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
The grid should now be refined around the wells and appear similar to Fig. 6.8.
3. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Fig. 6.8 Model discretization

Step 4: Assign Model Data

All the following data will be entered using the Data Editor. The unconfined aquifer is the layer
1 in the model. The silty layer and the confined aquifer is simply layer 2 and layer 3, it is possible
to switch between layers in the Data Editor by using the Page Up and Page Down keys on the
keyboard.

Aquifer types

< To define the aquifer types

1. Open the Layer Options dialog box by Grid < Layer Type...

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Processing Modflow 235
2. Make sure that for layer 1 the type is set to 1:unconfined and that Layers 2 and 3 are set to
3:confined/unconfined.
3. Click OK to exit the Layer Options dialog box.

Flow boundaries

< To specify the IBOUND data

1. Select Grid < Boundary Condition < IBOUND (Modflow)
2. Set fixed-head boundaries (IBOUND = -1) in layer 1 and layer 3 (use to switch Layer
Copy on or off and use the Page Up and Page Down keys to switch between layers) at the
west and east boundaries where the river enters and leaves the model area. Note that the
horizontal flow component in the second layer (silty layer) is negligible, so we do not need
to specify fixed-head cells in this layer.
3. Set no-flow boundaries in all layers in the areas defined by the Granite and South Granite
Hills. The boundaries in layers 1 and 3 should look like those in Fig. 6.9. The boundaries in
the layer 2 should look like those in Fig. 6.10.
4. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Aquifer geometry

The top of each aquifer slopes gradually from west to east. To save you entering this data, the
top elevation of each aquifer has been saved as a data file.

< To specify the top elevation of each aquifer

1. Select Grid < Top of Layers (TOP).
2. Import the file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\aq1top.dat as the elevation of the top of
aquifer 1 using Value < Matrix < Load... etc.
3. Switch to Layer 2 by pressing the Page Down (PgDn) key.
4. Import the file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\aq2top.dat as the elevation of the top of
aquifer 2.
5. Switch to Layer 3 by pressing the Page Down (PgDn) key.
6. Import the file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\aq3top.dat as the elevation of the top of
aquifer 2.
7. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

236 Processing Modflow
< To specify the bottom elevation of each aquifer
1. Select Grid < Bottom of Layers (BOT).
PMWIN will ask if you want to use the Top of Layer 2 as the Bottom of Layer 1, and Top
of Layer 3 as the Bottom of Layer 2. We will accept this. Note that the elevation of the
bottom of the layer 3 is 0.0 m, so we do not need to change the default value.
2. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Specification of the geometry of the system is now complete, all we need to do now is enter the
physical parameters of the system.

Fig. 6.9 Boundary Conditions in layer 1 and layer 3

Fig. 6.10 Boundary Conditions in layer 2

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Processing Modflow 237

Time parameters

< To specify the time parameters

1. Select Parameters < Time...
2. In the Time Parameters dialog box, change the Simulation Time Unit to DAYS and check
the Steady-State is selected in the Simulation Flow Type box.
3. Click OK to leave the Time Parameters dialog box.

Initial hydraulic heads

The groundwater flows naturally under a gentle gradient towards the river from both sets of hills
and also in an easterly direction. The values of starting heads (which include the required values
for the fixed-head cells) are saved in the file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial1\t2sh.dat.

< To load the initial hydraulic heads

1. Select Parameters < Initial Hydraulic Heads
2. Open the Browse Matrix dialog box by Value < Matrix...
3. In the Browse Matrix dialog box select Load to open the Load Matrix dialog box.
4. Click on and select the file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial1\t2sh.dat to load. Now
click on OK.
5. Exit the Load Matrix dialog box by clicking on OK.
The data will appear in the Browse Matrix dialog box, click on OK to exit this dialog box
and return to the Data Editor. The data is now loaded into layer 1.
6. Turn on layer copy by pressing down the layer copy button.
7. Move to the second layer and the third layer by pressing PgDn twice. Now, the data of layer
1 is copied to the second and third layers.
8. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Hydraulic Conductivity

< To set the horizontal hydraulic conductivity

1. Select Parameters < Horizontal Hydraulic Conductivity
2. Use Value < Reset Matrix... to enter the following data,
Layer 1 5.0 m/day
Layer 2 0.5 m/day
Layer 3 2.0 m/day

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

238 Processing Modflow
3. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

< To set the vertical hydraulic conductivity

1. Select Parameters < Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity
2. Use Value < Reset Matrix... to enter the following data for each layer
Layer 1 0.5 m/day
Layer 2 0.05 m/day
Layer 3 1.0 m/day
3. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Effective Porosity

The effective porosity is used in PMPATH, which we will use later to define the capture zones
of the pumping wells.

< To specify the effective porosity

1. Select Parameters < Effective Porosity
2. Use Value < Reset Matrix... to enter the following data for each layer
Layer 1 0.2
Layer 2 0.25
Layer 3 0.25
3. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

River

The River data is a little difficult to set up. MODFLOW requires that the river stage (ie. head),
river bottom elevation, and riverbed conductance be specified. The riverbed conductance is
defined as:

K @ L @ W
CRIV '
M

where,
CRIV = hydraulic conductance of the riverbed [L2/T]
K = hydraulic conductivity of the riverbed sediment [L/T]
L = length of the river within a cell [L]
W = width of the river within a cell [L]
M = thickness of the riverbed [L]

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Processing Modflow 239
In our case the riverbed has the following properties:
K = 2 m/day
L = 250 or 125 m depending on the length of the river within the cell
W = 100 m
M = 1m

< To specify the river data

1. Select Models < MODFLOW < River
2. You will notice that the river meanders across the model domain and rarely is contained
within a single cell. First, you need to decide the river data for each cell using the equation
above. The river data is entered by selecting the appropriate cell with the left mouse button
and then clicking with the right mouse button to enter the river data associated with that
cell. Entering the river data is sometimes very cumbersome. Fortunately, we have saved the
river hydraulic conductance, head and elevation of the riverbed bottom in three ASCII
matrix files, so we need only to import them.
3. To import river data, select Value < Matrix.... In the Browse Matrix dialog box, select
River Hydraulic Conductance from the Parameter drop-down box, then click Load... to
import the conductance file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\t2riverc.dat. Select Head in
the River from the Parameter drop-down box, then click Load... to import the head file
\pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\t2riverh.dat. Finally, select Elevation of the Riverbed
Bottom, then click Load... to import the file \pm5\examples\tutorials\tutorial2\t2riverb.dat.
You should see the cells specified as river cells highlighted in light blue.
4. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

Wells

< To specify the well data

1. Select Models < MOFLOW < Well
2. Switch to Layer 3 by pressing the PgDn key twice.
3. Move the grid cursor to Well 1 by clicking on it with the left mouse button and set the
pumping rate to -500 [m3/day] by bringing up the Cell Value dialog box with the right
mouse button.
4. Repeat the above step with Well 2 and Well 3.
5. Leave the Data Editor by File < Leave Editor < Yes

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

240 Processing Modflow

Step 5: Perform steady-state flow Simulation

< To run the flow simulation

1. Select Models < MODFLOW < Run...
2. Click OK in the Run Modflow dialog box to generate the required data files and to run
MODFLOW, you will see a DOS window open and MODFLOW perform the iterations
required to complete the flow simulation.
3. Press any key to exit the DOS Window.

Step 6: Extract and view results

< To produce head contours

1. Using the Results Extractor, save the hydraulic head data as T2S1.DAT and T2S2.DAT
and T2S3.DAT for Layer 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
2. Select Tools < Presentation and load the saved data into each layer. Alternatively, you may
open the Results Extractor dialog box within the Data Editor by Value < Result
Extractor. In this case, the Results Extractor dialog box will contain an additional Apply
button, which allows to put the data from the Results Extractor to the model grid directly.
3. Use Options < Environment... to choose the settings of the contours. The contour plot for
the first model layer should look similar to that in Fig 6.11.

Fig. 6.11 Steady-state head distribution in the first model layer

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Processing Modflow 241
< To delineate the capture zones of the pumping wells
1. Start PMPATH by Models < PMPATH (Pathlines and contours).
PMPATH will load the current model automatically. We will place particles around the
pumping wells and examine their 10 year capture zones.
2. Move to Layer 3 by pressing the Page Down (PgDn) key twice.
3. Click on the button and drag a small box around the cell containing Well 1 by holding
down the left mouse button and moving the mouse.
4. When you release the mouse button the Add New Particles dialog box appears, edit
Particles on circles such that the number of particles is equal to 15, the radius R = 80 and
the number of planes NK=3.
5. Click the Properties tab and change the color of new particles to Blue.
6. Click on OK to exit the Add New Particles dialog box.
7. Using a similar procedure add particles around Well 2 and Well 3. Make each of these a
different color (say Green and Black).
8. To display the hydraulic heads and a transverse and longitudinal cross section open the
Environment Options dialog box by Options < Environment…
9. Click the Contours tab, check the Visible box and click on the Restore Defaults button to
get standard settings.
10. Click the Cross Sections tab, check the Visible and Show grid boxes and set
Exaggeration=25, Projection Row=15 and Projection Column=9.
11. Click on OK to exit the Environment Options dialog box.
The hydraulic head contours for layer 3 and cross sections showing the location of the
particles should appear.
12. To set up the particle tracking parameters, open the Particle Tracking (Time) Properties
dialog box by Options < Particle Tracking (Time). In the Tracking Steps group, change
the (time) unit to years, step length to 10 and maximum number of steps to 200.
13. Click OK to exit the Particle Tracking (Time) Properties dialog box.
14. Start the backward particle tracking by Run < Backward.
You can easily see that the flowlines intersect with the river in numerous places (Fig. 6.12).
15. You can produce a plot of the steady state hydraulic heads of Layer 3 and the flowlines by
File < Save Plot As…

< To run forward particle tracking

We will now introduce a contaminant source upstream of Well 2 and see how far the
contamination moves through the steady state flow field after 75, 100 and 125 years.
1. Since the contamination is a surface source we need to place the particles in layer 1, if you

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

242 Processing Modflow
aren*t already in Layer 1 change to it by using the Page Up (PgUp) key.
2. To place the particles on the ground surface, drag a box around the cell [6, 5, 1].
3. In the Cell Faces tab of the Add New Particles dialog box you will notice that the figure
defines the various faces of an individual cell, since the contamination is a surface source we
only want to place particles on cell face 5.
4. Click the Particles tab and set the number of particles on Face 5 to NI=4 and NJ=4 and set
NI and NJ on all the other faces to 0.
5. Click OK to leave the Add New Particles dialog box.
6. Open the Particle Tracking (Time) Properties dialog box by Options < Particle
Tracking (Time)...
7. In the Tracking Steps group, change the (time) unit to years, step length to 1, and
maximum number of steps to 75. When finished, click OK to leave the dialog box.
8. Start the backward particle tracking by Run < Forward.
9. Repeat the above for Maximum number of steps of 100 and 125. The plot generated after
125 steps should look similar to Fig. 6.13.

Fig. 6.12 Steady-state hydraulic head distribution in the third model layer and capture zones of
pumping wells

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River

Processing Modflow 243

Fig. 6.13 125 years streamlines; particles are started at the cell [6, 5, 1] and flow towards
Well 2

6.1.2 Tutorial 2 - Confined and Unconfined Aquifer System with River