ABSTRACT
Maharlou-Bakhtegan Catchment in the southern part of Iran is faced with water scarcity. This problem is exacerbated by environmental degradation, climate change effects, mismanagement of water resources, along with a major dependence of water demand supplies on the limited groundwater resources. In this study, a combined approach of DPSIR model along with the scenario analysis was employed to derive the optimal management strategies for the environmentally sound water resources management of Maharlou-Bakhtegan Catchment considering the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources. Cause-effect relationships were identified by DPSIR framework and 15 scenarios were developed based on them. For evaluating each scenario, 9 integrated water resources management indicators were introduced and evaluated by MODSIM. The results demonstrated that in scenario Scen-14, restriction for the irrigation area development, as well as other management solutions, which led to 100% supply of domestic and industrial water demands and 91% supply of agricultural water demands. Also in the last scenario the value 1.79 kg/m[3] was received by the Agricultural water productivity indicators. Moreover, by satisfying all IWRM indicators as well as enhancing zero for negative water balance of the aquifers in Scen-14, it is clearly indicated that this scenario revealed more efficient management solutions for the environmentally sound water resources management of the catchment
Subject(s)
Environment , WaterABSTRACT
System dynamics approach by simulating a bargaining process can be used for resolving conflict of interests in water quality management. This approach can be a powerful alternative for traditional approaches for conflict resolution, which often rely on classical game theory. Waste load allocation models for river water quality management determine the optimal monthly waste load allocation to each point load. Most of these approaches are based on the multi-objective optimization models and do not consider the existing conflicts. In this study, a system dynamics-based conflict resolution model is presented for monthly waste load allocation in river systems. In this model, the stakeholders and decision-makers negotiate with each other considering their relative authorities, aspirations and dissatisfactions. System dynamics approach is actually used for simulating the bargaining process among the players. The model incorporates the objectives and preferences of stakeholders and decision-makers of the system in the form of utility functions and could provide a final agreement among the players. To evaluate the spatial and temporal variation of the concentration of the water quality indicator in the system, a water quality simulation model is also linked to the conflict resolution model. In the proposed model, a pre-assigned utility is allocated to different water users and the results are evaluated using a simulation model. The allocated utilities are tested and adjusted in order to provide an agreement between the assumed utilities and the utilities assigned by the model. The proposed model is applied to the Karkheh River system located in the southwest of Iran. The results show that the model can effectively incorporate the preferences of the players in providing a final agreement and the runtime of the proposed model is much less than the classical conflict resolution models. It is also shown that the waste load allocation can significantly reduce number and duration of the periods in which the river water quality violates the standards
ABSTRACT
Rapid industrial growth in the province of Khuzestan in the south west of Iran has resulted in disposal of about 1750 tons of solid waste per day. Most of these industrial solid wastes including hazardous wastes are disposed without considering environmental issues. This has contributed considerably to the pollution of the environment. This paper introduces a framework in which to develop a master plan for industrial solid waste management. There are usually different criteria for evaluating the existing solid waste pollution loads and how effective the management schemes are. A multiple criteria decision making technique, namely Analytical Hierarchy Process [AHP], is used for ranking the industrial units based on their share in solid waste related environmental pollution and determining the share of each unit in total solid waste pollution load. In this framework, a comprehensive set of direct, indirect, and supporting projects are proposed for solid waste pollution control. The proposed framework is applied for industrial solid waste management in the province of Khuzestan in Iran and a databank including GIS based maps of the study area is also developed. The results have shown that the industries located near the capital city of the province, Ahwaz, produce more than 32 percent of the total solid waste pollution load of the province. Application of the methodology also has shown that it can be effectively used for development of the master plan and management of industrial solid wastes