After a brief introduction of the structure and flow characters of seepage wells

a mathematic model of coupled seepage and pipe flow is developed by adapting the equivalent hydraulic conductivity. By taking the Pantang water source region of Shenmu County as an example

the model is used to get allowable groundwater yield by the 3-D finite difference method of groundwater flow. Results show that newly added allowable yield from seepage wells is 92 400 m3/d

and the newly added allowable yield in dry season is 56 200 m3/d. By allowable yields of different fetching water methods

seepage well is better than tube well and radial collector well

which is not only suitable for water yield

but also easy for management. In the arid and semiarid area

seepage well is much better than other fetching water methods.