Optimization of Nebhana reservoir water allocation by stochastic dynamic programming

The study is devoted to the identification of an optimal rule that would permit to improve the water resources management of dam in arid condition. The Nebhana dam is considered in this study as a representative of a set dams situated in such condition. The water storage is used for irrigation purpose. The identification of an optimal rule is based on two opposite objectives: the satisfaction of the irrigation water demand and the safeguard of a minimal water storage in the dam. By considering different weights for these objectives, the stochastic dynamic programming technique was led to various optimal rules for the water resources management of the Nebhana dam. This technique takes into account the variability of the volume of water inflow to the dam on the basis of their occurrence probability; the water losses by means of forecasting models and the water resources goals using weight coefficients. The identified optimal rule would permit to estimate the necessary water release volume for irrigation by considering the water storage and the decision period.