Optimal and Fair Distribution of Water Under Water Scarcity Scenarios at a Macroscopic Level

Abstract

This paper presents an optimization approach for designing water allocation systems at macroscopic level under water scarcity conditions. The proposed approach accounts for the proper water distribution of the available sources (dams, deep wells, lakes, rivers, etc.) and the incorporation of artificial sources (rainwater harvesting systems, and recycled water) to satisfy domestic and agricultural demands in a specific region at the maximum revenue. The proposed mathematical model incorporates fair distribution schemes (Social Welfare, Rawls and Nash Schemes), which allow determining fair water distribution options under water scarcity conditions. A case study for the city of Morelia in Mexico is presented to show the applicability of the proposed optimization approach. Results show that it is possible to obtain fair solutions for the water allocation for all the users under different water scarcity conditions.