Keywords
decision support systems, water quality, modeling, geographic information system, lebanon
Start Date
1-7-2006 12:00 AM
Abstract
Compared to the limited water supply in the Middle East, Lebanon is perceived to be a water rich country. Yet, it faces a growing water supply problem due to many factors including increases in demand, inadequate investment in infrastructure, and deterioration of water quality. Being the foremost water resource in Lebanon, the Litani River is at the center of several major water supply and irrigation schemes. However, the river water quality is severely impacted by the current practice of releasing untreated sewage into its water body, specifically in its upper basin which is home to about half a million inhabitants. This problem has prompted government and non-government agencies to consider the installation of several wastewater treatment facilities. This paper reports on the development of an integrated Decision Support System (DSS) for the Upper Litani Basin to be used by decision makers to assess the current status and explore potential solution alternatives. The DSS was developed based on the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model. The GIS-based interface of WEAP facilitated disaggregate representation of individual communities, wastewater treatment plants, water supply intakes and return flows and the river system. For a given simulation run which could span several years, the DSS calculates and routes sewage loads from each community to the river system or treatment plants. Water quality routines are used to estimate pollutant concentrations in the river. Concentrations and volumes of effluents from wastewater treatment plants are calculated based on given plant design specifications.
Development of an Integrated Decision Support System for Water Quality Control in the Upper Litani Basin, Lebanon
Compared to the limited water supply in the Middle East, Lebanon is perceived to be a water rich country. Yet, it faces a growing water supply problem due to many factors including increases in demand, inadequate investment in infrastructure, and deterioration of water quality. Being the foremost water resource in Lebanon, the Litani River is at the center of several major water supply and irrigation schemes. However, the river water quality is severely impacted by the current practice of releasing untreated sewage into its water body, specifically in its upper basin which is home to about half a million inhabitants. This problem has prompted government and non-government agencies to consider the installation of several wastewater treatment facilities. This paper reports on the development of an integrated Decision Support System (DSS) for the Upper Litani Basin to be used by decision makers to assess the current status and explore potential solution alternatives. The DSS was developed based on the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model. The GIS-based interface of WEAP facilitated disaggregate representation of individual communities, wastewater treatment plants, water supply intakes and return flows and the river system. For a given simulation run which could span several years, the DSS calculates and routes sewage loads from each community to the river system or treatment plants. Water quality routines are used to estimate pollutant concentrations in the river. Concentrations and volumes of effluents from wastewater treatment plants are calculated based on given plant design specifications.
