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The Sustainable Use of Water Resources: A Technical Support for Planning. A Case Study

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  • Vincenzo Torretta

    (Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, Insubria University, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy)

Abstract

The paper presents both the structure and application of a Decision Support System (DSS) for an important river in Brazil—along with the sustainable management of its watershed. This DSS assesses both surface-water quality and riverine microhabitats in terms of future scenarios, taking into account regulation limits and appropriate quality indexes. Our future scenarios consider: (a) population and climate change trends; (b) upgrade of sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants; and (c) withdrawal management from rivers and reservoirs. We use some main types of interrelated models, which can simulate different aspects of the responses of a basin, with respect to different modes of use of the water resource. In particular, the surface-water quality models simulate total phosphorus, BOD, dissolved oxygen concentration and thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria pollution. The riverine microhabitat models apply habitat suitability indexes of autochthonous fish species considering water depth, velocity, bottom substrate and dissolved oxygen. Both models are based on hydrologic and hydraulic models results and both were calibrated using discharge and water quality measurements collected over a 1.5-year monitoring period. Our pre- and post-processing are based on common spreadsheets and the output data are spatially analyzed using GIS software. Examples are also shown of how the DSS can contribute to developing a sustainable use of the basin resources, including a reservoir used to supply drinking water to the capital city (Salvador da Bahia).

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Torretta, 2014. "The Sustainable Use of Water Resources: A Technical Support for Planning. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:11:p:8128-8148:d:42347
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mentore Vaccari & Vincenzo Torretta & Carlo Collivignarelli, 2012. "Effect of Improving Environmental Sustainability in Developing Countries by Upgrading Solid Waste Management Techniques: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-10, October.
    2. Vincenzo Torretta & Fabio Conti & Matteo Leonardi & Gianluca Ruggieri, 2012. "Energy Recovery from Sludge and Sustainable Development: A Tanzanian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(10), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Vincenzo Torretta & Marco Ragazzi & Ettore Trulli & Giovanni De Feo & Giordano Urbini & Massimo Raboni & Elena Cristina Rada, 2014. "Assessment of Biological Kinetics in a Conventional Municipal WWTP by Means of the Oxygen Uptake Rate Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Vincenzo Torretta & Giordano Urbini & Massimo Raboni & Sabrina Copelli & Paolo Viotti & Antonella Luciano & Giuseppe Mancini, 2013. "Effect of Powdered Activated Carbon to Reduce Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors: A Sustainable Solution. Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-9, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefano Casadei & Arnaldo Pierleoni & Michele Bellezza, 2018. "Sustainability of Water Withdrawals in the Tiber River Basin (Central Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Jing Ma & Zhaoyun Yin & Zhengbing Guo, 2021. "Meta-Evaluation for the Evaluation of Environmental Management: Standards and Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Mariusz Adynkiewicz-Piragas & Bartłomiej Miszuk, 2020. "Risk Analysis Related to Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Hydropower Production in the Lusatian Neisse River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-23, June.
    4. Justyna Hachoł & Elżbieta Bondar-Nowakowska & Paweł S. Hachaj, 2019. "Application of Game Theory against Nature in the Assessment of Technical Solutions Used in River Regulation in the Context of Aquatic Plant Protection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, February.

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