A multi-criteria analysis framework for water transfers to improve the water environments under strong artificial interventions in highly urbanized areas

Hong Zhou; Jun Liu; Shufang Ou; Yongjie Shi; Cheng Gao; Liming Shi; Can Jin

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115244

A multi-criteria analysis framework for water transfers to improve the water environments under strong artificial interventions in highly urbanized areas

Environ Res. 2023 Mar 1:220:115244. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115244. Epub 2023 Jan 9.

Authors

Hong Zhou¹, Jun Liu², Shufang Ou³, Yongjie Shi⁴, Cheng Gao¹, Liming Shi⁵, Can Jin⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
² College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China; State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China. Electronic address: lj@hhu.edu.cn.
³ Nanjing Xinkaiyuan Engineering Co., Ltd, Nanjing, 210022, China.
⁴ China Eco-city Academy, Tianjin, 300467, China.
⁵ College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.

PMID: 36632882
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115244

Abstract

Water transfer is an effective measure to enhance hydrodynamic and water quality in highly urbanized areas. The effect of water transfer in highly urbanized areas is affected by strong artificial interventions, and it is difficult to evaluate the improvement of multiple indicators of many sections after water transfer. At present, there is no analysis framework directly evaluates the improvement of water environment under strong artificial interventions, making it difficult to determine the optimal scheduling of hydraulic projects. This study constructed a multi-criteria analysis framework for evaluating the improvement of water environment including index layers of water quality improvement, hydrodynamic improvement and economic cost, and designed corresponding element layers for each index layer. The weights of each element were determined based on fuzzy analytical hierarchy process, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was used for comprehensive evaluation. The framework was applied in Xishan District in highly urbanized Taihu Lake Basin, and the results showed that the proposed framework could effectively determine the optimal scheduling of hydraulic projects. Water quality compliance rate for the optimal water transfer scheme achieved in Xishan District was 82%, average rate of water quality improvement was 31%, and proportion of cross-sections meeting the Class III water quality standard was 61%. Average flow velocity was 0.10 m/s, proportion of the optimal velocity was 39%, and proportion of stagnant sections was 32%. Furthermore, the impact of regional control projects on the effect of water transfer was much greater than local projects, consequently, the best scheduling mode for regional control projects should be first determined, and then the scheduling combination for local projects. This study can provide a new framework for the assessment of water transfers to improve the water environments and a scientific basis for the dispatching of hydraulic projects in Taihu Lake Basin.

Keywords: Comprehensive evaluation system; Highly urbanized area; Multi-criteria analysis; Taihu Lake Basin; Water environment; Water transfer.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring* / methods
Lakes
Urbanization
Water Quality*