Model study of a freshwater infiltration experiment in an ancient creek ridge in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands

Abstract

A freshwater infiltration experiment has been conducted in an ancient creek ridge in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands. Agriculture suffers from the lack of freshwater availability during dry periods in summer, when freshwater is most needed. A field test is performed to increase the size of the freshwater lens present in a creek ridge with the use of a level-controlled drainage system. A 3D-groundwater model (MODFLOW, MT3DMS and SEAWAT) has been contructed to model the effects of implementating a level-controlled drainage system. The model is calibrated using field measurements and used to make predictions for freshwater availability in the future. The model results show that the field test is successful in increasing the size of the freshwater lens and gain in freshwater is by far enough to counter the negative effects by climate change .