Study on the Optimization of Multi-Objective Water Resources Allocation in the Henan Yellow River Water Supply Zone

Abstract

With the continuous growth in the global population, rapid socioeconomic development, and the impacts of factors like climate change, we are facing increasingly severe challenges regarding water scarcity. The scientific and rational allocation of water resources has become a key factor in ensuring sustainable development. The Henan Yellow River water supply zone occupies a crucial position in the socioeconomic development of Henan Province. Currently, there is a shortage of water resources with relatively low utilization rates. To alleviate the contradiction between water supply and demand, a study on the optimization of water resources (with p = 90%) for the years 2025 and 2030 was conducted. In this study, we constructed a multi-objective optimization model with the objectives of maximizing economic benefits, minimizing total water shortage, and maximizing water use efficiency. The second-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) was utilized to solve this model. The results indicate that by 2025, the optimized allocation of water resources will correspond to 17.663 billion m3, reducing the average water shortage rate in the research area to 9.69%. By 2030, the optimized allocation of water resources will further increase to 18.363 billion m3, bringing down the average water shortage rate to 8.34%. Concurrently, the supply structure of the research area will significantly improve after optimization. This is manifested through an increase in the proportion of surface water supply and a substantial rise in the proportion of supply from other water sources, while the proportion of groundwater supply noticeably decreases. These research findings can serve as a reference for the rational utilization and distribution of water resources in the future and can also offer insights for optimizing water resource allocation in other regions.