Multi-Objective Optimization of Water Resource Allocation with Spatial Equilibrium Considerations: A Case Study of Three Cities in Western Gansu Province

Xuefang Li, Yucai Wang (), Caixia Huang, Fuqiang Li and Guanheng Wu
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Xuefang Li: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yucai Wang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Caixia Huang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Fuqiang Li: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Guanheng Wu: Gansu Jingtai Irrigation District Electric Power and Water Resources Utilization Center, Baiyin 730400, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-31

Abstract: Against the background of increasingly scarce water resources and intensifying water use conflicts, achieving the scientific and optimized allocation of water resources has become crucial to ensuring regional sustainable development. Based on the traditional water resource optimization models that consider social, economic, and ecological objectives, this study introduces a spatial equilibrium level as a fourth optimization objective, constructing a multi-objective water resource allocation optimization model. The model simultaneously incorporates constraints on water supply, water demand, and decision variable non-negativity, as well as coupling coordination constraints among the water resources, socio-economic, and ecological subsystems within each water use unit. The NSGA-III algorithm is employed to obtain the Pareto front solution set for the four objectives, followed by a comprehensive ranking of the Pareto solutions using an entropy-weighted TOPSIS method. The solution exhibiting the best trade-off among the four objectives is selected as the decision basis for the water allocation scheme. Taking Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye cities in western Gansu Province as the study area, the results indicate that the optimal allocation scheme can guide the cities to shift from “water-deficit usage” toward “water-saving usage,” achieving a reasonable balance between meeting water demand and water conservation requirements. This promotes coordinated development among the water resource, socio-economic, and ecological subsystems within each city as well as among the cities themselves, thereby facilitating sustainable utilization of water resources and sustainable development of socio-economics and the ecological environment. The findings can serve as a reference for water resource allocation strategies in the study region.

Keywords: water resource optimization; spatial equilibrium level; NSGA-III algorithm; entropy-weighted TOPSIS method; coordinated development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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