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An integrated fuzzy-based advanced eutrophication simulation model to develop the best management scenarios for a river basin

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Abstract

Assessment of water quality status of a river with respect to its discharge has become prerequisite to sustainable river basin management. The present paper develops an integrated model for simulating and evaluating strategies for water quality management in a river basin management by controlling point source pollutant loadings and operations of multi-purpose projects. Water Quality Analysis and Simulation Program (WASP version 8.0) has been used for modeling the transport of pollutant loadings and their impact on water quality in the river. The study presents a novel approach of integrating fuzzy set theory with an “advanced eutrophication” model to simulate the transmission and distribution of several interrelated water quality variables and their bio-physiochemical processes in an effective manner in the Ganges river basin, India. After calibration, simulated values are compared with the observed values to validate the model’s robustness. Fuzzy technique of order preference by similarity to ideal solution (F-TOPSIS) has been used to incorporate the uncertainty associated with the water quality simulation results. The model also simulates five different scenarios for pollution reduction, to determine the maximum pollutant loadings during monsoon and dry periods. The final results clearly indicate how modeled reduction in the rate of wastewater discharge has reduced impacts of pollutants in the downstream. Scenarios suggesting a river discharge rate of 1500 m3/s during the lean period, in addition to 25 and 50% reduction in the load rate, are found to be the most effective option to restore quality of river Ganges. Thus, the model serves as an important hydrologic tool to the policy makers by suggesting appropriate remediation action plans.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to BITS Pilani, India, for providing necessary facilities to carry out this research work. Authors are also thankful to CWC, Lucknow, and CPCB, New Delhi, for sharing information on river Ganges. The software WASP (version 8.0) used for the entire modeling has been provided by US Environmental Protection Agency. All references cited in the text have provided the detailed insight about the subject matter and therefore are greatly acknowledged. We also express our sincere thanks to the anonymous reviewers and editors for their valuable comments and time.

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  1. Civil Engineering Department, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, India

    Rallapalli Srinivas & Ajit Pratap Singh

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  1. Rallapalli Srinivas
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Correspondence to Ajit Pratap Singh.

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Srinivas, R., Singh, A.P. An integrated fuzzy-based advanced eutrophication simulation model to develop the best management scenarios for a river basin. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 9012–9039 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1206-0

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