Optimal allocation of water resources using Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA) (Case study: Gorganrood basin)

In this research, a metaheuristic algorithm, called Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA), was developed in MATLAB software, with the purpose of optimal allocation strategies of a multi-reservoirs system (Golestan and Voshmgir dams) located at Gorganrood basin (north of Iran), for a five year period (from 2007-2008 to 2011-2012). At the first step, the performance of the developed algorithm was successfully assessed through several benchmark functions. Next, it was applied to the monthly allocation of Gorganrood multi-reservoirs system. The objective function was defined as the minimizing of the total deficit for the study period. The results of all applied algorithms were evaluated by reliability and vulnerability criteria. The results of WCA were compared with other developed evolutionary algorithms including Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The WCA, GA and PSO were capable to supply 97.73, 87.07 and 94.3 percent of Golestan dam water demand, respectively. For the Voshmgir dam, the mentioned models could supply 97.06, 87.59 and 94.47 percent of water demand, in same order. The temporal reliability (α=0.9) for WCA, GA and PSO models, was obtained 95, 26.67 and 58.33 percent for Golestan dam and 91.67, 38.33 and 66.67 percent for Voshmgir dam, respectively, revealed that the WCA was superior in optimal allocation of multi-reservoirs system.