A priority-based multi-objective framework for water resources diversion and allocation in the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project

Abstract

Because of the degradation of the social-ecological-economic-environmental (SEEE) system, water scarcity has been a growing source of conflicts over the globe. Further, the uncertainty arising from complex water resource scenarios increases the conflicts between the different water users and destabilizes water allocation systems. In this study, a priority-based multi-objective programming (MOP) model (quantitative path) with fuzzy random variables (FRVs) is established for a water resource diversion and allocation (WRDA) problem. To determine the priorities of the multiple objectives, a priority-determination approach (qualitative path) is designed, comprising of a pressure-state-response (PSR) multiple attribute assessment system and a technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based evaluation method. Then the MOP model is transformed into a solvable goal programming (GP)-based model. Because of the inclusion of FRVs, the obtained results can be adjusted to local conditions in view of social, economic, environmental and ecological objective priorities. Therefore, they are more applicable than traditional weight sum or Pareto multi-objective WRDA methodologies. A case study from the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP-MRP) in China is given to demonstrate the practicability and rationality of the proposed methodology in obtaining scientific WRDA plans.