The application of information entropy in basin level water waste permits allocation in China

The water waste discharge permits allocation among great river basins in national level is the firs step of national wide water waste management strategy and a key point of total mass control as well. The challenge is coming from the conflict between equality and efficiency. In this research, a new allocation method based on the conception of information entropy and maximum entropy method is introduced into the basin level wastewater permits allocation. Four indexes are chosen to compose a multi-criterion system in information entropy method (IEM) including, GDP, population, water environmental capacity and water resource quantity. The allocation of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in national basin level among the seven great river basins in China is illustrated as a case study.

► A permit allocation method to compromise efficiency and equality is given.
► The principle of permit allocation in China is discussed.
► We introduce information entropy into the pollution permit allocation.
► The allocation process is displayed with a case study in China.