Multi-objective optimal water resources allocation in the middle and upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin (China) based on equilibrium theory

Abstract In the river basin water resources allocation (WRA) problem, an unbalanced WRA poses challenges to water resources management departments. Many studies focus on achieving a lower water shortage rate while ignoring the equilibrium relationship among the socio-economic system, water resources system and eco-environmental system, as well as the equilibrium relationship among different regions. In this study, a water resources allocation model(WRAM) based on equilibrium theory is constructed to achieve the balance between different systems and different spaces in a basin. First, the relationship among the water resources system, socio-economic system and eco-environmental system is described. Then, the regional equilibrium index and system equilibrium index are constructed. Finally, the first model based on equilibrium theory is constructed. The results show that: (1) the Pareto Front reflects the contradictory relationship between economic development and environmental sustainability; (2) with the restructuring of industry and cropping, both economic efficiency and water shortage rates improve; (3) the equilibrium of the basin could also be further improved if water resources utilisation is further improved. Therefore, this study improves the existing WRAM, which can be applied to guide the water resources management of river basin.