Numerical simulation of transient groundwater age distributions assisting land and water management in the Middle Wairarapa Valley, New Zealand

This study used numerical models to simulate transient groundwater age distributions using a time-marching Laplace transform Galerkin (TMLTG) technique. First, the TMLTG technique was applied to simple box models configured to match idealized lumped parameter models (LPMs). Even for simple box models, time-varying recharge can generate groundwater age distributions with highly irregular shapes that vary over time in response to individual recharge events. Notably, the transient numerical simulations showed that the breakthrough and mean ages are younger than in the steady flow case, and that this difference is greater for sporadic recharge time series than for more regular recharge time series. Second, the TMLTG technique was applied to a transient numerical model of the 270 km(2) Middle Wairarapa Valley, New Zealand. To our knowledge this study is the first application of the TMLTG technique to a real-world example, made possible by the data set of tritium measurements that exists for the Wairarapa Valley. Results from a transient mean age simulation shows variation from a few days to over a decade in either temporal or spatial dimensions. Temporal variations of mean age are dependent on seasonal climate and groundwater abstraction. Results also demonstrated important differences between the transient age distributions derived from the TMLTG technique compared to the much simpler steady-state LPMs that are frequently applied to interpret age tracer data. Finally, results had direct application to land and water management, for example for identification of land areas where age distributions vary seasonally, affecting the security of groundwater supplies used for drinking water.