Abstract
In this paper, a new methodology is developed to handle parameter and input uncertainties in water and waste load allocation (WWLA) in rivers by using factorial interval optimization and the Soil, Water, Atmosphere, and Plant (SWAP) simulation model. A fractional factorial analysis is utilized to provide detailed effects of uncertain parameters and their interaction on the optimization model outputs. The number of required optimizations in a fractional factorial analysis can be much less than a complete sensitivity analysis. The most important uncertain inputs and parameters can be also selected using a fractional factorial analysis. The uncertainty of the selected inputs and parameters should be incorporated real time water and waste load allocation. The proposed methodology utilizes the SWAP simulation model to estimate the quantity and quality of each agricultural return flow based on the allocated water quantity and quality. In order to control the pollution loads of agricultural dischargers, it is assumed that a part of their return flows can be diverted to evaporation ponds. Results of applying the methodology to the Dez River system in the southwestern part of Iran show its effectiveness and applicability for simultaneous water and waste load allocation in rivers. It is shown that in our case study, the number of required optimizations in the fractional factorial analysis can be reduced from 64 to 16. Analysis of the interactive effects of uncertainties indicates that in a low flow condition, the upstream water quality would have a significant effect on the total benefit of the system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asher, J. B., Beltrao, J., Aksoy, U., Anac, D., & Anac, S. (2012). Modeling the effect of salt removing species in crop rotation. International Journal of Energy and Environment, 3(6), 350–359.
Box, G. E. P., Hunter, W. G., & Hunter, J. S. (1978). Statistics for experimenters. Wiley New: York.
Dai, T., & Labadie, J. W. (2001). River basin network model for integrated water quantity/quality management. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 127(5), 295–305.
Ferris, M. C. (1990). Iterative linear programming solution of convex programs. Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, 65, 53–65.
Fredericks, J., & Labadie, J. (1995). Decision support system for conjunctive stream-aquifer management. Completion Rep. Grant No. 14-08-0001-G1551-04 Proj. No. o3 Colorado Water Resour. Res. Inst. Colorado State University Ft. Collins Colo.
Huang, G. H. (1996). IPWM: an interval parameter water quality management model. Engineering Optimization, 26(2), 79–103.
Kerachian, R., & Karamouz, M. (2005). Waste-load allocation model for seasonal river water quality management: application of Sequential Dynamic Genetic Algorithms. Scientia Iranica, 12(2), 117–130.
Li, Y. P., Huang, G. H., Nie, S. L., & Mo, D. W. (2008). Interval-parameter robust quadratic programming for water quality management under uncertainty. Engineering Optimization, 40(7), 613–635.
Mesbah, S. M., Kerachian, R., & Nikoo, M. R. (2009). Developing real time operating rules for trading discharge permits in rivers: application of Bayesian networks. Environmental Modelling & Software, 24(2), 238–246.
Mesbah, S. M., Kerachian, R., & Torabian, A. (2010). Trading pollutant discharge permits in rivers using fuzzy nonlinear cost functions. Desalination, 250, 313–317.
Montgomery, D. C. (2001). Design and analysis of experiments (5th ed.). New York: Wiley.
Mostafazadeh-Fard, B., Mansouri, H., Mousavi, S. F., & Feizi, M. (2008). Application of Swap model to predict yield and soil salinity for sustainable agriculture in an arid region. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 3(4), 334–342.
Nikoo, M. R., Kerachian, R., & Karimi, A. (2012). A nonlinear interval model for water and waste load allocations in river basins. Water Resources Management, 26, 2911–2926.
Nikoo, M. R., Kerachian, R., Karimi, A., & Azadnia, A. A. (2013). Optimal water and waste-load allocations in rivers using a fuzzy transformation technique: a case study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185(3), 2483–2502.
Niksokhan, M. H., Kerachian, R., & Karamouz, M. (2009). A game theoretic approach for trading discharge permits in rivers. Water Science and Technology, 60(3), 793–804.
Noory, H., van der Zee, S. E. A. T. M., Liaghat, A. M., Parsinejad, M., & van Dam, J. C. (2011). Distributed agro-hydrological modeling with SWAP to improve water and salt management of the Voshmgir Irrigation and Drainage Network in Northern Iran. Agricultural Water Management, 98, 1062–1070.
Poorsepahy-Samian, H., Kerachian, R., & Nikoo, M. R. (2012). Water and pollution discharge permit allocation to agricultural zones: application of game theory and min-max regret analysis. Water Resources Management, 26(14), 4241–4257.
Qin, X., Huang, G., Chen, B., & Zhang, B. (2009). An interval-parameter waste-load-allocation model for river water quality management under uncertainty. Environmental Management, 43, 999–1012.
Sasikumar, K., & Mujumdar, P. (1998). Fuzzy optimization model for water quality management of a river system. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 124, 79–88.
Singh, R. (2004). Simulations on direct and cyclic use of saline waters for sustaining cotton–wheat in a semi-arid area of north-west India. Agricultural Water Management, 66, 153–162.
Subbarao Vemula, V. R., Mujumdar, P., & Ghosh, S. (2004). Risk evaluation in water quality management of a river system. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 130, 411–423.
Zhang, W., Wang, Y., Peng, H., Li, Y., Tang, J., & Wu, B. (2010). A coupled water quantity–quality model for water allocation analysis. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 24, 485–511.
Zhou, Y., & Huang, G. H. (2011). Factorial two-stage stochastic programming for water resources management. Journal of Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 25, 67–78.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the University of Tehran for this research under grant number 8102060/1/05.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tavakoli, A., Kerachian, R., Nikoo, M.R. et al. Water and waste load allocation in rivers with emphasis on agricultural return flows: application of fractional factorial analysis. Environ Monit Assess 186, 5935–5949 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3830-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3830-6