Development of a Numerical Multi-Layered Groundwater Model to Simulate Inter-Aquifer Water Exchange in Shelby County, Tennessee

Inter-aquifer water exchange between the shallow and Memphis aquifers in Shelby County, Tennessee may pose a contamination threat due to downward migration of younger, poor quality groundwater into deeper, more pristine aquifer. Discontinuities (breaches) upper Claiborne confining unit (UCCU) allow for leakage aquifer, sand-dominated aquifer that provides about 95% used area. This study created multi-layered 3D model County using United States Geological Survey’s MODFLOW-NWT program evaluate simulation period from January 2005 December 2016. Results indicate an overall through UCCU 61 m3/min accounting 10% its budget inflow, with localized areas experiencing as much 20% exchange. As young tends stay part assessment 60 m revealed representing 29% zone 53% certain areas. More studies must be conducted understand location, characteristics, orientation breaches, well inter-aquifer