Entropy and Multi-Objective Based Approach for Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network Assessment and Redesign

Selection of the number and location of groundwater quality monitoring wells may require the consideration of different aspects such as: monitoring objectives, temporal frequency of monitoring, and monitoring costs. These aspects were examined using observations of groundwater quality variables made twice a year in 124 wells in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where groundwater is of the best quality. Considering these features the groundwater quality monitoring network was assessed and redesigned using entropy. The assessment procedure was based on expressing transinformation as a function of distance between wells. It was found that the number and location of groundwater quality monitoring wells varied if these aspects were embedded in the assessment and redesign procedure. Copyright The Author(s) 2009