Multi-criteria decision analysis for the optimal management of nitrate contamination of aquifers

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 74; no. 4; pp. 365 - 381
• Main Authors: Almasri, Mohammad N., Kaluarachchi, Jagath J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2005; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: algorithms; analysis; animal manures; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; aquifers; Artificial neural network; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Costs and Cost Analysis; Costs and Cost Analysis - methods; Decision analysis; decision making; decision support systems; Decision Support Techniques; Environment; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; fertilizers; Fresh Water; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Genetic algorithm; groundwater contamination; Groundwater pollution; Land use; methods; Models, Theoretical; neural networks; Nitrate; nitrate nitrogen; Nitrates; Nitrates - analysis; Nitrogen; Non-point source pollution; nonpoint source pollution; Optimization; point source pollution; pollution control; pollution load; prevention & control; Research methodology; soil nutrient dynamics; Washington; water management; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; water pollution; Water Pollution, Chemical; Water Pollution, Chemical - prevention & control; Water treatment; Washington; USA, Washington; Nitrate; Genetic algorithm; Non-point source pollution; Artificial neural network; Decision analysis; Optimization; Land use; Nitrates; Neural network; Environmental management; Contamination; Aquifers; Pollution source
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2004.10.006

We present an integrated methodology for the optimal management of nitrate contamination of ground water combining environmental assessment and economic cost evaluation through multi-criteria decision analysis. The proposed methodology incorporates an integrated physical modeling framework accounting for on-ground nitrogen loading and losses, soil nitrogen dynamics, and fate and transport of nitrate in ground water to compute the sustainable on-ground nitrogen loading such that the maximum contaminant level is not violated. A number of protection alternatives to stipulate the predicted sustainable on-ground nitrogen loading are evaluated using the decision analysis that employs the importance order of criteria approach for ranking and selection of the protection alternatives. The methodology was successfully demonstrated for the Sumas–Blaine aquifer in Washington State. The results showed the importance of using this integrated approach which predicts the sustainable on-ground nitrogen loadings and provides an insight into the economic consequences generated in satisfying the environmental constraints. The results also show that the proposed decision analysis framework, within certain limitations, is effective when selecting alternatives with competing demands.