Reliability and sensitivity analysis of river basin management for the San Antonio area

Abstract

The reduction of the liability of pollution to urban water resources is considered as one of the common goals of all elements of our society. To handle the challenge with a sense of realism, the probabilistic nature of the performance of pollution control facilities, as well as environmental responses, must not be ignored and cannot be eliminated. Reliability is defined herein as the measure of effectiveness for the attainment of specific water quality managerial goals. The objective of this paper is to introduce the concept of reliability to regional waste water treatment. In addition, the paper will develop four distinct optimization procedures for the determination of the best pollution control policies for each treatment facility while minimizing total regional cost requirements, subject to the quality criteria, and the reliability desired. The effects of reliability in optimum managerial policies of urban water quality will be illustrated by applying the developed reliability analysis to the existing situation in San Antonio Area, Texas. The implications resulting from the sensitivity analysis will also be discussed.