FloPy
Open SourceVerified
The Python interface to MODFLOW — build, run and post-process groundwater models entirely in code.
Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling
HYDRUS
ActiveThe standard for vadose-zone modelling — variably saturated flow and transport by Richards' equation.
by PC-Progress
- Pricing
- Freemium
- License
- Proprietary (HYDRUS-1D freeware)
- Commercial use
- Permitted
- Ecosystem
- Standalone
- Platform
- Windows
About HYDRUS
The HYDRUS programs (PC-Progress, built on decades of USDA Salinity Lab lineage) simulate water, heat and solute movement in variably saturated media by solving Richards' equation — the physics between the ground surface and the water table that saturated models simplify away. Applications run from irrigation and drainage design to landfill covers, managed aquifer recharge and pesticide leaching.
HYDRUS-1D is free and ubiquitous in teaching and research; the 2D/3D products are commercial with add-ons (including coupled PHREEQC geochemistry via HP1/HP2). For serious unsaturated-zone questions it is the default toolset worldwide.
Where it fits in the workflow
TerrainCatchmentRainfallRunoffRoutingHydraulicsMappingReporting
Alternatives to HYDRUS
Other groundwater & hydrogeology tools covering similar workflow stages.
MODFLOW 6
Gov-PublicVerified
The USGS groundwater model — the world standard for aquifer simulation, rebuilt as a modular multi-model framework.
Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling
FEFLOW
Commercial
DHI's finite-element groundwater platform — unstructured meshes, density-driven flow, heat and mine dewatering.
Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveGroundwater ModellingContaminant Transport
Groundwater Vistas
Commercial
Veteran commercial MODFLOW GUI with deep PEST integration — a consultant favourite for calibration-heavy work.
Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling
MODPATH
Gov-Public
USGS particle tracking for MODFLOW — pathlines, travel times and capture zones from flow solutions.
Groundwater & HydrogeologyStableMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling
MT3D-USGS
Gov-Public
Multi-species solute transport for MODFLOW — advection, dispersion, sorption and reactions in aquifers.
Groundwater & HydrogeologyStableContaminant TransportMODFLOW