Decision Support System for Total Maximum Daily Load

Abstract

A decision support system (DSS) was developed to calculate total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of various pollutants for water quality limited sections (WQLS) within a river basin. The DSS includes a watershed simulation model, a database, a consensus building module, and a TMDL module that provides a worksheet for the calculations. The system can generate multiple combinations of waste load allocation and non-point-load allocation to meet the water quality criteria for the intended uses of the WQLS. Considering various possible solutions, the regulatory agency and local stakeholders can negotiate an option most agreeable to all parties. The methodology is demonstrated with an example application in the Catawba River Basin, which extends from North Carolina to South Carolina.