Statistical Decision Analysis for Interception Wells

by Hewa A. Wijedasa, Utah State Univ, Logan, United States,
Marian W. Kemblowski, Utah State Univ, Logan, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Irrigation and Drainage: Saving a Threatened Resource?In Search of Solutions

Abstract:

In this paper we apply the Bayesian decision analysis to the engineering design of a groundwater interception well whose purpose is to capture a contaminant plume. Two decision variables are considered: (1) pumping rate of an interception well when the desired width of interception zone is known, and (2) optimal number of soil samples needed to estimate the statistics of mean log-conductivity. Optimal sample size is calculated for the case when no prior information regarding the mean of log-conductivity is available. The analysis is performed for steady-state groundwater flow in a linear-type aquifer. The utility function accounts for the risk associated with not capturing the contaminant plume, cost of pumping, and cost of sampling.

Subject Headings: Groundwater pollution | Groundwater flow | Wells (water) | Bayesian analysis | Plumes | Benefit cost ratios | Water pollution

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