The main research objective is to develop a catchment scale economic optimization model to identify cost-effective solutions for water protection, focusing on various water polluting sectors.
In Finland, both point and nonpoint source nutrient pollution causes significant harm due to eutrophication in inland waters and the Baltic Sea. In addition to nutrient loads, water quality at the catchment scale is significantly affected by dissolved organic carbon loads, which cause surface water browning. Economic modeling that combines hydrological and economic data aims to define a cost-effective allocation of abatement measures and changes in management practices within polluting sectors. The developed catchment scale model can be used to identify cost-effective solutions to mitigating adverse water quality impacts. The research also explores the potential of a digital twin to support decision-making at the catchment scale.
