Effect of constraint severity in optimal design of groundwater remediation

Variation of decision variables for optimal remediation using the pump-and-treat method is examined to estimate the effect of the degree of concentration constraint. Simulation-optimization method using genetic algorithm is applied to minimize the total pumping volume. In total volume minimization strategy, the remediation time increases rapidly prior to significant increase in pumping rates. When the concentration constraint is set severer, the more wells are required and the well on the down-gradient direction from the plume hot-spot gives more efficient remediation performance than that on the hot-spot position. These results show that the more profitable strategy for remediation can be achieved by increasing the required remediation time than raising the pumping rate until the time reaches a certain limitation level. So, the remediation time has to be considered as one of the essential decision variables fer optimal remediation design.