Selecting Non-Point Source Pollution Treatment Practices Using Linear Optimization

Date of Award

Spring 1985

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Program/Concentration

Civil Engineering

Committee Director

F. S. Tirsch

Committee Member

Carol A. Markowski

Committee Member

C. Calvert Churn

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.E54G37

Abstract

This paper provides a case study application of a linear optimization program as a water quality management tool. The optimization program seeks to minimize the cost of nonpoint source pollution control by selecting the best combination of pollution control management practices for Hampton, Virginia. The management practice options are grass swale roadways, porous pavers, ponds, detention basins and fertilizer management education. Management practice selection is limited by constraints on land-use and water quality. Pollutants evaluated are total nitrogen, total phosphorus, suspended solids, fecal coliforms and biochemical oxygen demand (five-day). The value in the water quality constraints for pollution loading on all the land area is reduced in 10 percent increments from 10 percent to 60 percent pollution removal. Each pollution reduction level produced a set of optimum management practices and costs. The data for each pollutant are examined for diminishing marginal returns and management practice selection trends. The cost for each percent of pollution removed increases between 40 percent and 50 percent removal levels for all pollutants except biochemical oxygen demand. The management practice and land-use combinations recommended for each pollutant are similar.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/5291-q148

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