Groundwater–Surface Water Interaction: Process Understanding, Conceptualization and Modelling (Proceedings of Symposium HS1002 at IUGG2007, Perugia, July 2007). IAHS Publ. 321, 2008, 39-45.

Groundwater–river interaction in the context of inter-basin transfer

SURIN WORAKIJTHAMRONG & IAN CLUCKIE

Water and Environmental Management Research Centre (WEMRC), Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Bristol, BS8 1UP, UK

cexsw@bristol.ac.uk; i.d.cluckie@bristol.ac.uk

Abstract This study focused on coupled groundwater–river interaction (GRI) in the context of inter-basin transfer. The UK, along with many other countries, has considered the development of water resource schemes that transfer water from regions of surplus to regions of deficit. The transfer of water from the River Severn to the River Thames and the southeast of England has been considered for over 100 years, with major studies being completed in the 1970s and 1980s. The primary problems to be resolved are the real-time forecasting and control of the transfer scheme and the understanding of the groundwater–river interaction issues. This new study describes some of the experimental results of the 1970s in the context of the modelling capability of the present day. The mathematical modelling utilises elements of MODFLOW combined with HEC-RAS that extends the capability to natural flood waves where interaction with superficial deposits along river corridor is also an important factor. The preliminary modelling results on the River Tees show a rapid river response and the overall leakage of 1–3% compared with the total reservoir release. This work will be extended to the River Severn where leakage losses of over 40% were estimated in release experiments conducted in 1976.

Key words groundwater–river interaction; inter-basin transfer; numerical modelling; River Tees; UK