A new methodology for assessing water quality, based on data envelopment analysis: Application to Algerian dams
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Date
2021
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université msila
Abstract
The present paper aims to develop a new Water Quality Index (WQI) based on Data Envelopment Analysis
(DEA). Rather than using subjective weights of a judgmental process as inputs of the DEA model, we propose
more objective variables, identified as “optimistic closeness values”, appropriately derived from the observed
values of the hydrochemical parameters.
The proposed approach was employed to assess the water quality of 47 dams in Algeria, defined with a
dataset of 10 hydrochemical parameters. The results of the DEA-based WQI application revealed that (i) 21.27%,
27.66%, 25.53%, 4.25% and 21.27% of the total dams are categorized as “Poor”, “Marginal”, “Medium”, “Good”
and “Excellent” water quality, respectively; (ii) the best water quality is found in “Kissir” and the worst one in
“Bougara”; (iii) a priority scale on the hydrochemical parameters can be set for the treatment of water using the
notion of slack value.
Collectively, the new methodology has proven its effectiveness not only for categorizing or ranking sites based
on water quality but also as an alternative tool to be used to assist decision-makers in allocating funds and
managing water resources
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Keywords
Optimistic closeness value Water Quality index Risk ranking Data envelopment analysis Dam