Multilevel Factorial Fractional Programming for Sustainable Water Resources Management

The need for more efficient water use has increased in importance with growing water scarcity and increasing competition among water users. Measuring the economic efficiency of water use has become a useful indicator for water resources management at all levels. This study proposes a multilevel factorial fractional programming model to support water resources management under uncertainty. Linear fractional programming is introduced to provide a practical way for taking into account the ratio of economic benefit to water consumption in the modeling process. This approach allows water allocation plans to be developed on the basis of the optimal economic efficiency of water use rather than economic incentives. A multilevel factorial analysis technique is integrated within linear fractional programming framework to deal with data uncertainty. This technique can quantify the individual and interactive effects of uncertain parameters on system performance and help decision makers gain improved insight into a changing system. To demonstrate its applicability, the model is applied to Xingshan County in China. A set of decision alternatives with respect to the optimal economic efficiency of water use are provided. The effects of uncertain parameters are quantified through a detailed uncertainty analysis, and the most influential parameters are identified.