Optimal contaminant plume management with US/WELLS

A micro-computer based software package developed at utah State University for computing optimal pumping strategies for well systems (US/WELLS) is demonstrated. US/WELLS is used to determine the optimal time-varying sequence of extraction and injection rates when only limited data is available. The software determines the extraction/injection rates, in pre-specified locations, needed for immobilizing and/or extracting a groundwater contaminant plume. In the optimization problem, the objective function can be either to minimize the extraction/injection rates needed {linear) or to minimize the hydraulic power used for lifting water (quadratic). In either case, different weights can be assigned to emphasize any time period. Gradient control pairs of observation wells are placed around the perimeter of the plume to assur