Suggestion of a Decision Support System for Implementing the Water Quality Trading Policy to Developing Urban Areas

Abstract

: There are many pilot programs and projects to implement the water quality trading (WQT) policy. But actual trading is relatively rare. The main reason of the scarce applications of WQT policy is the difficulty in determining the equalities between the trading sites. The uncertainty of the impacts of the nonpoint sources pollutant discharges between up and downstream urban development areas also makes the implementation of the policy harder. The simulated results from the watershed modeling program will be used to calculate the point and nonpoint sources pollutants of the future urban development scenarios. The amount of suspended sediments resulting from the urban developments and rainfall intensities will be used to indicate the environmental impacts of the water body between upstream and downstream. The water quality impacts after development scenarios to the outlet of the watershed were transferred to the trading units between two sites. The recommended trading units can be used as a decision support system for policy makers and stakeholders to carry out better WQT practices.