Predicted Water-Level and Water-Quality Effects of Artificial Recharge in the Upper Coachella Valley, California, Using a Finite-Element Digital Model

This study was begun in mid-1973 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Desert Water Agency (DWA) and the Coachella Valley County Water District (CVCWD). The purpose of the study was to (1) analyze the present water quality conditions of the ground-water basin, (2) determine the water-level changes that will result from recharging the aquifer, and (3) determine the water-quality changes that will result from recharging the aquifer.

The study included: (1) Collecting, evaluating, tabulating, and computer processing all available ground-water-quality data for the study area; (2) describing the areal distribution of water quality throughout the ground-water basin; (3) updating the pumpage and other hydrologic data compiled for the analog model of the study area (Tyley, 1974); (4) developing a digital hydraulic (flow) model utilizing the finite-element method; and (5) developing a digital solute-transport (water quality) model utilizing the finite-element method. This report presents the results of the 3-year study and the predictions of the possible effects of ground-water recharge on the water resources of the upper Coachella Valley.