A leader-follower-interactive method for regional water resources management with considering multiple water demands and eco-environmental constraints

• Published in: Journal of hydrology (Amsterdam) Vol. 548; pp. 121 - 134
• Main Authors: Chen, Yizhong, Lu, Hongwei, Li, Jing, Ren, Lixia, He, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2017
• Subjects: algorithms; Bi-level model; case studies; China; decision making; hydrology; Multiple water demands; policy analysis; pollutants; resource allocation; stakeholders; Synergistic optimization; Uncertainty; wastewater; water allocation; water resources; Water resources management; China; Synergistic optimization; Multiple water demands; Uncertainty; Water resources management; Bi-level model
• ISSN: 0022-1694; 1879-2707
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.02.015

•A leader-follower-interactive method is developed for water resources management.•Multiple water demands especially the ecological demand are merged into the model.•Application of the bi-level model for water system in Fengtai District is presented.•The trade-offs between the environmental and economic interests are discussed.•Comparative analysis among the bi-level model and single-level models is given. This study presents the mathematical formulation and implementations of a synergistic optimization framework based on an understanding of water availability and reliability together with the characteristics of multiple water demands. This framework simultaneously integrates a set of leader-followers-interactive objectives established by different decision makers during the synergistic optimization. The upper-level model (leader’s one) determines the optimal pollutants discharge to satisfy the environmental target. The lower-level model (follower’s one) accepts the dispatch requirement from the upper-level one and dominates the optimal water-allocation strategy to maximize economic benefits representing the regional authority. The complicated bi-level model significantly improves upon the conventional programming methods through the mutual influence and restriction between the upper- and lower-level decision processes, particularly when limited water resources are available for multiple completing users. To solve the problem, a bi-level interactive solution algorithm based on satisfactory degree is introduced into the decision-making process for measuring to what extent the constraints are met and the objective reaches its optima. The capabilities of the proposed model are illustrated through a real-world case study of water resources management system in the district of Fengtai located in Beijing, China. Feasible decisions in association with water resources allocation, wastewater emission and pollutants discharge would be sequentially generated for balancing the objectives subject to the given water-related constraints, which can enable Stakeholders to grasp the inherent conflicts and trade-offs between the environmental and economic interests. The performance of the developed bi-level model is enhanced by comparing with single-level models. Moreover, in consideration of the uncertainty in water demand and availability, sensitivity analysis and policy analysis are employed for identifying their impacts on the final decisions and improving the practical applications.