Optimal allocation of regional water resources based on multi-objective dynamic equilibrium strategy

Abstract

Raising water demand, insufficient freshwater resources and uneven precipitation are the main causes of water conflicts in the river basin. The main challenges in water resources allocation are the following: first, the uncertainty of water supply caused by climate change; second, the dynamic allocation of water resources is not considered; third, there is a lack of equitable water allocation, which may lead to intensified conflicts among the water user sectors. Based on the above challenges, a multi-objective dynamic programming optimal water resources allocation model under uncertainties is established in this paper, which could be a resolution for water disputes as it addresses simultaneously economic, social and environmental benefits. The proposed model considers maximizing the minimum satisfaction degree of each water sector, maximizing the utilization efficiency of water resources in the basin, and maximizing economic benefits. Satisfaction degree function is introduced to optimize water allocation equality in water use sectors (agricultural, domestic, and industrial sectors), and economic efficiency loss acceptance is integrated into the model constraints to control the economic loss corresponding to variations in water availability. In addition, a case study demonstrated the practicality and rationality of the proposed model, and the model results proposed herein show significantly help for a single river basin. Most importantly, the results show that model with dynamic constraint ensures a greater overall economic return for the entire basin, and a larger variation in water resources of sub-area leads to a larger maximum economic efficiency loss. Moreover, the proposed model herein is flexible and can be used in other developing countries/regions only by modifying the parameters according to the actual situation.