Performance Evaluation of the Water Cycle Optimizing Algorithmfor Calibration of QUAL2Kw Model

Abstract

The first step in management of available water resources is to maintain their quality, due to the limited usable water resources. Conservation of water resources quality requires the correct understanding of the fate of water quality and its proper modeling. The QUAL2Kw Model is a numerical model that can simulate water quality issues. However, this model cannot be used before calibration and validation for a given river. In this research, the calibration of the QUAL2Kw model was performed using the Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA). For this regards, the qualitative data of Yamuna River in India includingCBODs, CBODf, organic nitrogen, ammonia and nitrate during the period of ten years (1999-2009) were studied. The results of calibration with GA and WCA algorithms were compared together. The average R2 value was 97 percent for all the variables. RMSE ranges for WCA and GA algorithm were 0.32 to 4.2 and 0.4 to 8.2, respectively. In general, it can be concluded that the WCA algorithm has a better performance and accuracy than GA in calibration of the QUAL2Kw model and can be used to calibrate the model.