Evaluation of Strategies for Pumping Optimization of Coastal Aquifers Using Numerical Simulation and Game Theory

Abstract

In this study, after simulating five years of saltwater intrusion with SEAWAT package in Astaneh-Kouchesfahan coastal aquifer, Iran, 19 strategies, including managerial, structural, and combined strategies, were investigated to reduce the saltwater intrusion. Since managerial solutions cause users’ dissatisfaction and structural solutions increase the costs, two-player game theory was used to identify the most appropriate solution. According to the results obtained from game theory, the two strategies of artificial recharge and underground dam had the greatest impact on preventing the saltwater intrusion with the highest satisfaction of stakeholders, so that they decreased the saltwater intrusion from 740 m by 150 and 300 m, respectively, after five years. Therefore, the combined simulator-optimizer method presented in this study can evaluate various solutions, and the most appropriate solution can be proposed with the lowest cost and maximum satisfaction for the sustainable management of coastal aquifers.

Evaluating the Role of Polyelectrolyte in Effluent Treatment Process at Water Treatment Plants for Balancing Water resources (Case Study: Water Treatment Plants of Tehran)

“…The desirability index is a concept ensuing from economic development, in which the water sector entries play key roles based on the treatment process. The social desirability index denotes participation, education, communication, regulation, fair allocation, and social justice (Beheshti et al, 2022). The Likert scale questionnaire was employed to codify an appropriate socioeconomic index.…”

“…According to the results of inflows and outflows at water treatment plants, changing the water treatment process can save more than 50,000,000 m 3 of water. Table (2) reports the effects of process change on the water and effluent states of WTPs in Tehran. The results indicate that more than 50 MCM of effluent is dumped by water treatment plants in Tehran with no specific purposes each year.…”

“…In the simulation, S1 was selected as the right scenario for the input parameters of the hybrid model. This scenario was selected concerning high values of r 2 Analyzing the groundwater hydrograph results of 21 observation wells in the entire region indicates that groundwater reduction has been than the increased exploitation of groundwater resources in recent years. This reduction was much more severe in southern areas.…”