An optimisation-based approach for integrated water resources management

Abstract

This paper considers an integrated water management problem for a region lacking fresh and ground water resources, which comprises (a) the optimal placement of desalination, water reclamation and wastewater treatment plants, (b) the calculation of the optimal capacities of the above facilities, and (c) the calculation of the optimal conveyance system for desalinated, reclaimed water and wastewater. This problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, with an objective to minimise the annualised total cost including capital and operating costs. Finally, the proposed model is applied to a real case for the Greek island of Syros in the Aegean Sea. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.