Modeling and Forecasting Groundwater Levels Using AquiMod in Brgy. Balabago, Alimodian, Iloilo

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Program of the Department of Environmental Science invites all the members of the Loyola Schools community to the Thesis Defense of Ms. Erika Rose M. Alejar on April 22, 2022 at 4:30 in the afternoon (online).

Ms. Alejar's thesis entitled, “Modeling and Forecasting Groundwater Levels Using AquiMod in Brgy. Balabago, Alimodian, Iloilo" will be presented to Ms. Alecz Gabrielle S. Fernandez and Engr. Carlos M. Oppus. Her advisers are Dr. Maria Aileen Leah G. Guzman and Dr. Andrew Barkwith.

Abstract

The Philippine archipelago is remarked as very susceptible to multiple disasters and this susceptibility is aggravated by climate change. Climate change leads to different environmental impacts including stronger typhoons, extreme drought, and flooding. However, the hazards that endanger the country are not only limited to the issues mentioned. Recently, groundwater flooding occurrences are being observed in some areas of the Philippines including Iloilo Province. Unlike fluvial floods, groundwater flooding has not been given a focus for the past years. This paper seeks to pioneer the study of this poorly understood event. It also aims to fill the knowledge gap on groundwater flooding which has been known to bring multiple detrimental impacts on water security and quality, property integrity, economic activities, and health. Groundwater level data (2020-2021) from a monitoring system in Brgy. Balabago, Alimodian, Iloilo were used to simulate groundwater level trends using a lumped-parameter groundwater model,  AquiMod. It was concluded that AquiMod can be used to model groundwater level in the site. Unfortunately, the modeling software did not show direct possibility of groundwater flooding for the study period (2017 to 2022). This should not mean that the hazard does not exist at all or would not exist. On the other hand, it was discovered that the AquiMod has a great potential in capturing drought as the generated model had a good representation of drought events in Iloilo. It was suggested that AquiMod can be applied in drought modeling, especially for governmental use. The findings of this study can assist the farmers and residents in Alimodian in dealing with water risks. The analysis of the produced model also provided scientific-based information to the Municipal Government of Alimodian, Iloilo and the NWRB for improved water governance.

Keywords: groundwater, flooding, groundwater flooding, drought, AquiMod, climate change

For those who wish to join the oral presentation and defense, kindly get in touch with Dr. Maria Aileen Leah G. Guzman at mguzman@ateneo.edu for the official Zoom link.

Thank you.