Hydrological and geohydrological study of a ditch

Based on a detailed inventory of the hydrography and the hydraulic and (geo)hydrological characteristics of the wide project area, a surface water model was developed in Infoworks-RS and a groundwater model of the upper groundwater aquifers in Modflow. The results of the surface water modelling of the existing situation served as a basis for the development of the groundwater model. Both models were calibrated against the available level and flow measurements.

Based on this reference situation, models were subsequently developed of the design proposal formulated by the customer, so that its impact on groundwater levels on the one hand and on water levels and discharge rates in the Rijtgracht on the other hand could be assessed. Since the impact of the proposed modifications to the expected groundwater levels were deemed unacceptable, an optimised scenario was subsequently developed and extrapolated so as to minimise the expected impact. This resulted in a scenario with an adapted river profile and the installation of a number of thresholds on the bottom to increase water impoundment at basic discharge.

This study resulted in a modified proposal for the redesign of the Rijtgracht, whereby the river profile is adapted and impoundment is created at basic discharge by raising the river bottom and installing a number of thresholds in the watercourse. This allowed the impact on the groundwater levels to be minimised (in some cases even resulting in a modest level increase) and the risks of flooding in the area to be reduced significantly.