Abstract
Narrowing the decision space is crucial in water quality management at the meso-scale for developing countries, where a lack of data and financial budgets prevent the development of appropriate management plans and result in serious water quality degradation in many rivers. In this study, a framework for handling this task is proposed, comprising a lumped water quality model, with sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, and a management domain, including loss estimation and value of information analysis. Through a case study with linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in the Yodo River, it is found that non-point sources and flow rate are factors that influence LAS concentration at the hot spot location. By considering the entire process of water quality management planning, we identify that the definition of the cost function of LAS treatment determines the appropriate estimation for the expected loss in reducing LAS under uncertain water quality conditions. The value of information analysis with “expected value of including uncertainty” and “expected value of perfect information” further helps estimate the benefit of including uncertainty in decision-making and the financial cost for obtaining more information regarding inputs that have been previously prioritized.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biswas AK, Tortajada C (2011) Water quality management: an introductory framework. Int J Water Resour Dev 27:5–11. doi:10.1080/07900627.2010.547979
Dakins ME, Toll JE, Small MJ (1994) Risk-based environmental remediation: decision framework and role of uncertainty. Environ Toxicol Chem 13:1907–1915. doi:10.1002/etc.5620131206
Davies K (2012), Renminbi (Chinese yuan) exchange rates 1969–2011. http://www.chinability.com/Rmb.htm. Accessed 10 Jun 2013
Deguchi T, Yamashiro H, Sugahara H (2006) SPR method: rehabilitation technologies to revive decrepit pipelines. http://www.iaarc.org/publications/fulltext/isarc2006-00058_200607252043.pdf. Accessed 30 May 2013
Deksissa T, Pauw D, Vanrolleghem PA (2004) Dynamic in-stream fate modeling of xenobiotic organic compounds: a case study of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates in the Lambro River, Italy. Environ Toxicol Chem 23:2267–2278. doi:10.1897/03-466
Euromonitor International Ltd (2012) World consumer income and expenditure patterns 2013. Data, London
Facchi A, Gandolfi A, Whelan MJ (2007) A comparison of river water quality sampling methodologies under highly variable load conditions. Chemosphere 52:43–53. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.07.050
Fernandez GP, Chescheir GM, Skaggs RW, Amatya DM (2006) DRAINMOD–GIS: a lumped parameter watershed scale drainage and water quality model. Agric Water Manag 81:77–97. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2005.03.004
Hirayama Y, Ikegami H, Machida M, Tatsumoto H (2006) Simple and rapid determination of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates by in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled with liquid chromatography. J Health Sci 52:220–236. doi:10.1248/jhs.52.228
Ibbitt R (2002) Yodo-gawa. AUNESCO-IHP Publication. http://flood.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ihp_rsc/riverCatalogue/Vol_04/03_Japan-12.pdf. Accessed 15 Apr 2013
Ishikawa Y, Tokai A (2006) Development of watershed model for chemical risk assessment in aquatic system. J Jpn Soc Water Environ 29:797–807. doi:10.2965/jswe.29.797
JSDA (Japan Soap and Detergent Association) (2001) Investigation of environmental concentration of AE. http://jsda.org/w/02_anzen/3kankyo_8.htm. Accessed 20 May 2013 (in Japanese)
Kapiriri L, Martin DK (2007) A strategy to improve priority setting in developing countries. Health Care Anal 15:159–167. doi:10.1007/s10728-006-0037-1
Larson RJ, Payne AG (1981) Fate of the benzene ring of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in natural waters. Appl Environ Microbiol 41:621–627
Lewis DR, Williams RJ, Whitehead PG (1997) Quality simulation along rivers (QUASAR): an application to the Yorkshire Ouse. Sci Total Environ 194–195:399–418. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(96)05379-X
Loucks DP, Beek E, Stedinger JR, Dijkman JPM, Villars MT (2005) Water resources systems planning and management: an introduction to methods, models and applications. UNESCO, Paris
Lumina Decision System (2012b) User guide—Analytica 4.4
Lumina Decision System (2013) Case studies by catalogue. http://www.lumina.com/case-studies. Accessed 01 Oct 2013
Lumina Decision Systems (2012a) Analytica educational professional (Release 4.4.2.2)
Mara D (2004) Domestic wastewater treatment in developing countries. Earthscan, London
McAvoy DC, Masscheleyn P, Peng C, Morrall SW, Casilla AB, Lim JMU, Gregorio EG (2003) Risk assessment approach for untreated wastewater using the Qual2E water quality model. Chemosphere 52:55–66. doi:10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00270-4
MOE (Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan) (2003) Total data and results. http://www.env.go.jp/chemi/prtr/result/index.html. Accessed 15 Mar 2013 (in Japanese)
MOE (Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan) (2012) A derivation basis for targeted water quality value of LAS. http://www.env.go.jp/press/file_view.php?serial=20850&hou_id=15827. Accessed 30 May 2013 (in Japanese)
Morgan MG, Henrion M (1990) Uncertainty: a guide to dealing with uncertainty in quantitative risk and policy analysis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
NIES (National Institute for Environmental Studies) (2013) GEMS/water St. No. 080013—Yodo River Station. http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/gem/inter/GEMS/gems_jnet/station/yodo_site.html. Accessed 20 May 2013 (in Japanese)
OECD SIDS (2005) Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. UNEP. http://www.chem.unep.ch/irptc/sids/OECDSIDS/LAS.pdf. Accessed 01 Mar 2013
Osaka Prefecture (2013) Gross product of economic activities inside prefecture. http://www.pref.osaka.jp/attach/6937/00029001/gd15k201.pdf. Accessed 10 Jun 2013
Pacific Consultants International (2001) The detailed design study on HCMC water environment improvement project. Final report summary
Rueda F, Moreno-Ostos E, Armengol J (2006) The residence time of river water in reservoirs. Ecol Model 91:260–274. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.04.030
Rust D, Wildes S (2008) Surfactants: a market opportunity study update. Prepared for the United Soybean Board. http://soynewuses.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Surfactants%20MOS%20-%20Jan%202009.pdf. Accessed 13 Jun 2013
Wang X, Zang W, Huang Y, Li S (2004) Modeling and simulation of point-non-point source effluent trading in Taihu Lake area: perspective of non-point source control in China. Sci Total Environ 325:39–50. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.01.001
Whelan MJ, Egmond RV, Guymer I, Lacoursiere JO, Vought LMB, Finnegan C, Fox KK, Sparham C, O’Connor S, Vaughan M, Pearson JM (2007) The behavior of linear alkyl benzene sulphonate under direct discharge conditions in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Water Res 41:4730–4740. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2007.06.059
Wikimedia Foundation (2013) Analytica software. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytica_%28software%29. Accessed 01 Oct 2013
Yang CC, Chen CS, Lee CS (2011) Comprehensive river quality management by simulation and optimization models. Environ Model Assess 16:283–294. doi:10.1007/s10666-010-9247-x
Yokota F, Thompson KM (2004) Value of information analysis in environmental health risks management decision: past, present, and future. Risk Anal 24:635–649. doi:10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00464.x
Zandaryaa S (2011) Global challenge of wastewater: examples from different continents. Stockholm International Water Institute. http://www.worldwaterweek.org/documents/WWW_PDF/2011/Sunday/K21/The-Malin-Flakenmark-Seminar/Global-challenge-of-wastewater-Example-from-different-continents.pdf. Accessed 04 May 2013
Acknowledgments
We thank the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, for providing a scholarship to study and conduct this research during the graduate course at Osaka University. The authors would like to express appreciation to Lumina Decision Systems for providing a license to use Analytica® software for educational and research purposes that enables us to finish this work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Le, A.H., Tokai, A. & Nakakubo, T. Applying value of information methods to prioritize elements for water quality management with an example of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in the Yodo River, Japan. Environ Syst Decis 34, 110–123 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-014-9490-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-014-9490-9