Water‐Quality Management Through Combined Simulation‐Optimization Approach

A modeling technique for water‐quality management that incorporates both simulation and optimization is presented. The proposed methodology should be of use in the allocation of waste load for a number of dischargers located on a water body. A Monte Carlo simulation model is utilized to generate a series of water quality responses that lead to the formulation of a constraint set for the optimization model. Repeated solution of the optimization model, using an appropriate mathematical programming technique, yields a distribution for the required treatment cost. Additionally, the distribution for the required pollutant removal fraction at each of the point source locations is obtained from the combined use of simulation and optimization. From the treatment cost distribution function, attractive alternatives can be identified for further analysis prior to the implementation of a water‐quality management plan. Elements of the proposed methodology are illustrated through an example of allocating biochemical oxygen demand.