A Finite volume transient groundwater flow model.

Abstract

In Kampala, groundwater is the major water source for about 50% of the population. An understanding, therefore, of the groundwater ow patterns is of absolute importance. In this work, we have described an isotropic transient groundwater ow model using parameter values obtained from Bwaise III, a Kampala suburb. An orthogonal grid nite volume method with quadrilateral control volumes has been used to simulate the model using mixed boundary conditions. We observed that a steady state of the system is determined by the speci ed head boundary condition. The steady state is either approximately equal to the speci ed head boundary value or below the speci ed head boundary value depending on the amount of water owing out of the system. By constructing a balance between in ow and out ow from the aquifer, we are able to maintain a steady amount of water in the system without the aquifer drying up. xi