Developing a Conflict Resolution Model for Groundwater Quantity and Quality Management: A Case Study

In this paper, a conflict resolution methodology for conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources is developed using Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and the Young conflict resolution theory. The proposed model is applied to the Tehran Aquifer. Annual domestic water consumption in the Tehran metropolitan area is close to one billion cubic meters. The sewer system in this region consists of the traditional absorption wells and domestic waste water pollutes groundwater resources. Some part of the domestic wastewater is drained into local rivers and partially contaminates the surface water resources. This polluted surface water is used in conjunction with groundwater for irrigation purposes in the southern part of the Tehran. Decision makers and stakeholders in the study area have some conflicting interests such as water supply with acceptable quality, reducing the pumping costs, improving the groundwater quality, reducing the construction costs of the Tehran waste water collection system and controlling the groundwater table fluctuations. In the proposed methodology, the MODFLOW and MT3D groundwater quantity and quality simulation models are linked with the NSGA-II optimization model to develop a Pareto front among the objectives. The best point on the Pareto front is then calculated using the Young conflict resolution theory. The results of the proposed model show the significance of applying an integrated approach to surface and groundwater resources in the study area.