A Fuzzy Robust Nonlinear Programming Model for Stream Water Quality Management

An interval-parameter fuzzy robust nonlinear programming (IFRNP) approach was developed for stream water quality management under uncertainty. The interval and fuzzy robust programming methods were incorporated within a general framework to address uncertainties associated with the nonlinear objective and the left- and right-hand sides of the constraints. A piecewise linearization approach was developed to deal with the nonlinear cost function. IFRNP could explicitly address complexities of various system uncertainties, where parameters were represented as both interval numbers and fuzzy membership functions. Furthermore, the dual uncertain information associated with the lower and upper bounds of each interval parameter could be effectively tackled through the concept of fuzzy boundary interval. The proposed IFRNP method was applied to a case of water quality management in the Guoyang section of the Guo River in Anhui province, China. A number of cost-effective schemes for water quality management were generated, and allowable wastewater discharge amounts were recommended. The results indicated that IFRNP was applicable to water quality management problems, where high nonlinearities and dual uncertainties exist.