Quantifying the mutual effects of water trading and systematic water saving in a water-scarce watershed of China

Mingshuai Chen; Junlong Zhang; Taishan Wang; Kexin Wu; Li You; Jing Sun; Yue Li; Yongping Li; Guohe Huang

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2024.121712

Quantifying the mutual effects of water trading and systematic water saving in a water-scarce watershed of China

Water Res. 2024 May 1:257:121712. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121712. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mingshuai Chen¹, Junlong Zhang², Taishan Wang³, Kexin Wu¹, Li You⁴, Jing Sun⁵, Yue Li¹, Yongping Li⁶, Guohe Huang⁷

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China. Electronic address: zjunlong1021@126.com.
³ College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shanxi 712100, China.
⁴ State key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
⁵ College of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China.
⁶ School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
⁷ Environmental Systems Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, Sask S4S 0A2, Canada.

PMID: 38728776
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121712

Abstract

In this study, a conjunctive water management model based on interval stochastic bi-level programming method (CM-ISBP) is proposed for planning water trading program as well as quantifying mutual effects of water trading and systematic water saving. CM-ISBP incorporates water resources assessment with soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), systematic water-saving simulation combined with water trading, and interval stochastic bi-level programming (ISBP) within a general framework. Systematic water saving involves irrigation water-saving technologies (sprinkler irrigation, micro-irrigation, low-pressure pipe irrigation), enterprise water-saving potential and water-saving subsidy. The CM-ISBP is applied to a real case of a water-scarce watershed (i.e. Dagu River watershed, China). Mutual effects of water trading and water-saving activities are simulated with model establishment and quantified through mechanism analysis. The fate of saved water under the systematic water saving is also revealed. The coexistence of the two systems would increase system benefits by [11.89, 12.19]%, and increase the water use efficiency by [40.04, 40.46]%. Thus mechanism that couples water trading and water saving is optimal and recommended according to system performance.

Keywords: Mutual effect; Stochastic uncertainties; Systematic water saving; Water resources management; Water rights trading.