An Optimal Water Allocation Model Based on Water Resources Sustainable Assessment in Shanshan Region, Northern China

Abstract

With the socioe-conomic development of Shanshan region, water demand is rapidly growing. To make adjustments to the water resources carrying capacity, socioe-conomic and ecological environment, this study performed an index system for the water sustainability of Shanshan region. Based on the method of membership degree of fuzzy set theory, sustainable degree and the ability of sustainable development of Shanshan are measured. Take the simulation results of optimal water allocation as actual index value. According to a multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, the result shows that the sustainable degree of Shanshan region is increased gradually with the increase of planning level years (2015, 2020, 2030). In 2030 the sustainable degree reached 0.74, which is in the higher level of sustainable development. The plan suggests that the policy of rapid socio-economic development and better environmental protection may achieve the most sustainable development of Shanshan region in the future. Introduction Water is the most essential resource for the sustainable development of human society and for basic support of all human and natural systems [1]. However, the problem of coordinating the relationship among socio-economic, ecological environment and water resources is the most serious issue for sustainable development. Water Resources Optimal Allocation (WROA) (which includes the connotation of sustainable development, and sustainable degree evaluation as well as optimized allocation of water resources) may provide a solution to the above problems to achieve the goal of sustainable development in a region. Furthermore, the information of WROA is likely to be a helpful tool for policy makers at all levels (locally, regionally, and nationally). In general, the connotation of sustainable development has its origins in United Nations human environment conference. IUPN (1980) proposed that we must study the natural, social, ecological and economic basic relationship, in order to ensure the sustainable development of the world. Lester R. Brown (1981) put forward to control the population growth, protect the resource and develop renewable energy to achieve the sustainable development. WCED (world commission on environment and development) in 1987 came up with the definition of sustainable development that is not only to meet the needs of contemporary people, but also not against the ability of the development for future generations to meet their own needs. Subsequently, China firstly brings into sustainable development strategy in the long-term planning of China's economy and society. The current study is commonly believed that sustainable development mainly includes the sustainable social development, sustainable ecological development, and sustainable economic development. This paper considering the regional water resources carrying capacity and the diversity of its International Conference on Mechanics and Civil Engineering (ICMCE 2014) © 2014. The authors Published by Atlantis Press 1038 influence factors sets up a regional index system of sustainable development, which coordinates the development of resources, socio-economic and ecological environment. [2] The research of Water Resources Optimal Allocation (WROA) originated in the 1950s.With the development of mathematical programming and computer simulation technology, the research method and application system of Water Resources Optimal Allocation has made great progress. Wang et al. (2003) presented a Water resources optimal allocation theory and method for the sustainable development of socio-economic and water resources [3]. Zhao et al. (2011) developed the multi-objective model for optimal allocation of water resources based on sustainable development, which comprehensively considered the social,economic and environmental benefits and applied the genetic algorithm [4]. The development of water exploitation and utilization is increasing sophistication, the way of using water changed from consuming to saving and ecological environment development. Current research in water resource allocation is not comprehensive combined with the connotation of sustainable development and the simulation results of optimal water allocation do not performed sustainable evaluation.