Optimal Design of Sustainable Agricultural Water Networks

Abstract

This work proposes a multiperiod mixed integer nonlinear programming model for the optimal design of agricultural water networks, which involves the optimal reuse of resources, such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides. This model is based on a new superstructure that includes attractive options for the use, reuse, recycle, regeneration, and storage for the considered resources. The proposed model incorporates simultaneously the maximization of the net annual profit and the minimization of the environmental impact. The profit is formed by the economic incomes due to the sale of crops minus the corresponding capital and operating costs associated with the fresh water, fertilizer, storage, piping, pumping, and water treatment. Whereas the environmental impact is determined through the Eco-indicator 95 and the water footprint to evaluate the effect over the global warming, acidification, eutrophication, green water footprint, gray water footprint, and blue water footprint. Two case studies from the Mexican state of Sinaloa were solved with the proposed model. The operating, economic, and design parameters are representative for the state of Sinaloa in Mexico; and the results are presented in three-dimensional Pareto diagrams. From these diagrams, it is possible to find the optimal relationship between profit, eco-indicator, and water footprint.