A comprehensive sharp-interface simulation-optimization model for fresh and saline groundwater management in coastal areas [Un modèle complet de simulation et d’optimisation de l’interface abrupt pour la gestion des eaux souterraines douces et salées en zones côtières] [Um modelo abrangente de simulação-otimização da interface abrupta para gerenciamento de águas subterrâneas doces e salinas em áreas costeiras] [Un modelo comprensivo de simulación-optimización de interfaz nítida para la gestión de agua subterránea dulce y salina en áreas costeras]

Both fresh and saline groundwater may be of some value to coastal communities. A comprehensive simulation-optimization model was developed to identify optimal solutions for managing both types of groundwater in coastal areas. The model may be used for conventional management problems of fresh groundwater development and of seawater intrusion control. In addition, the model can be used for problems of concurrent development of fresh and saline/brackish groundwater for beneficial uses. A set of hypothetical examples is given to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. In the protection of an over-exploiting freshwater pumping well, the saltwater pumping scheme was less efficient than the freshwater injection scheme. Although the former scheme may be more advantageous in some limited cases, the latter should be considered first as it retains more freshwater in the aquifer. The example of the concurrent development of fresh and brackish groundwater exhibited two different sets of optimal solutions: one with a large amount of freshwater and a small amount of brackish water with high salinity, and the other with a small amount of freshwater and a large amount of brackish water with low salinity. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.