Hydrodynamic numerical model aimed at water management and withdrawal of sub-tropical alluvial aquifer in San Pedro Sula area (Honduras)

Abstract

This paper deals with the results of a hydrodynamic numerical model carried out within the multidisciplinary study of San Pedro Sula (Honduras) alluvial aquifer. The main focus was the appraisal of water resources for the supply of drinking water. As well as normal hydrogeological methodologies and hydrological ones, the use of geo-electrical prospections, well electric logs and stratigraphies made it possible to evaluate hydraulic parameters which were used as model input data. Due to the complexity and extension of this kind of aquifer, a reverse model was built by imposing the measured piezometric levels and estimating the necessary water volumes for maintaining the same conditions. It was so possible to reconstruct the hydrogeological system in a relatively easy manner because inflow amounts were the results of the model rather than input data. It has so been possible to simulate the main features and estimate the water supply of the hydrogeological system. Visual Modflow software package (finite difference calcula- tion code, MCDONALD & HARBAUGH, 1984) was used for the mod- elling. Furthermore, a detailed modelling carried out on the basis of well fields pumping tests data, allowed to obtain simulations and forecasts aimed at the management of water extraction.