USE OF OPTIMIZATION MODELS IN RIVER BASIN WATER-QUALITY PLANNING

A literature review on water quality management optimization models is presented. They include linear and non-linear approaches, determinist ic and stochastic methods, as well as multi-criteria decision techniqu es. Two river basin decision support systems, DESERT and STREAMPLAN de veloped recently at the International Institute of Applied Systems Ana lysis, (IIASA) are outlined. The usage of these tools is illustrated b y results obtained for three river basins located in Central and Easte rn European countries. Examples incorporate least-cost DO policies, re gional strategies to reduce nutrient emissions with special regard to the control of inland sea eutrophication, multi-criteria decision maki ng and the sequential usage of optimization and simulation models to a ssess the sensitivity of a particular policy in terms of water quality and economic impacts. Major features of available optimization models are classified. Reasons of their rare real life applications and asso ciated barriers are evaluated, primarily the nature of legislation and related institutional structures. Finally, a future outlook is presen ted. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.