Surface Runoff and Groundwater Modelling

Hraunfossar - example of groundwater runoff
Vatnaskil has over 25 years of groundwater modelling experience in Iceland and abroad. We provide consulting services to water supply utilities, electric utilities, municipalities and industries. Our specialists have designed groundwater models for use in a wide range of projects relating to watershed management, wellhead protection and contaminant transport. Our groundwater models are often an important tool in environmental impact studies regarding geothermal and hydroelectric power plants as well as land use and development projects.

Our expertise in the field of surface water and groundwater hydrology along with our strong background in groundwater modelling allows us to develop and utilize our own modelling software. Vatnaskil has developed the AQUAFLOW modelling software package which consists of SURF, a rainfall-runoff model and AQUA3D, a three-dimensional groundwater model.


Recent projects:
  • The greater Reykjavik area groundwater model – Reykjavík
  • Groundwater model of Northeast Iceland – Landsvirkjun Power
  • The Reykjanes groundwater model, annual update – Hitaveita Sudurnesja public utility
  • Natural state groundwater model for Hálslón reservoir – Landsvirkjun Power

Contact us 

vatnaskil [at] vatnaskil.is

SOFTWARE

AQUAFLOW software package:
  • SURF – a numerical rainfall-runoff model that simulates the movement and storage of water between the atmospheric and groundwater phases of the hydrologic cycle.  The model calculates surface water processes on both glacial and non-glacial areas.  SURF can be utilized as a lumped surface/groundwater model or spacially distributed infiltration output can be taken from SURF and used as input into the Aqua3D groundwater model.
  • Aqua3D - a finite-element numerical model used to solve three-dimensional groundwater flow and transport. It solves the equations describing groundwater flow and transport for both homogeneous, isotropic aquifers and inhomogeneous, anisotropic aquifers.
  • MODFLOW/MODPATH/MT3D – a three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater flow model with accompanying particle-tracking and contaminant transport models.
  • FEFLOW – a finite-element numerical model used to solve three dimensional groundwater flow and transport.