System dynamics modeling approach to water supply system

Abstract

A water supply system is a comprehensive system including the components of water users, sources, treatment plants, and transportation measures. The complex nature of a water supply system, however, has made hard to develop and evaluate a comprehensive and generic water supply system model. In this study, a generic water supply system model is used to evaluate water sustainability for a hypothetical system in the semi-arid area. An environment for object-oriented system dynamics model allows the decision maker to develop a model that can be understood easily by the stakeholder and non-modeler. The modular structure of the generic water supply system also allows for integration of a site specific model by combining modules which a modeler may wish to have in the system. Imported and reclaimed waters to support groundwater as alternative water sources are evaluated in the hypothetical system in this study. As a result, alternative water sources demonstrate an important role to maintain water sustainability of the system when groundwater is the main source.