Computerized generation of operational strategies for the management of temporary storage of drainage water from several polders in a network of small lakes and canals

We study the computerized generation of operational strategies for the management of temporary storage of drainage water from several polders in a network of small lakes and canals (Dutch: polder–boezem system). This network of lakes and canals functions as an intermediate storage reservoir. Pumps empty the intermediate reservoir into rivers or the sea. We suggest a way of prioritizing the allocation of pumping capacity when a prediction of future drainage to the intermediate reservoir is provided. We show that there is a greedy algorithm that allocates pump capacity for several time steps in advance and that respects the priority rules.