A Multi-Objective Optimization Model for Wastewater Treatment in Eco-Industrial Park Design with Employment Considerations

Increased consumption of natural resources due to a growing population requires solutions for sustainability and conservation. Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) have been built to promote sustainable industrial development but have yet to consider the social impact in terms of maximizing job opportunities and uncertainty in water output quality. In this study, a multi-objective optimization model for wastewater treatment in EIP was developed to minimize economic and environmental waste, maintain plant resiliency, and increase job opportunities that will improve the quality of life in the community that the EIP will be built upon. By adding the social aspect to the model through job opportunities, the model opened more plants and pipes, creating a more costly but more resilient EIP Network. By introducing uncertainty in output water contamination from plants, the achieved EIP Network is found to be not vulnerable to change. Insights from considering both social impact and uncertainty in output water quality help EIP managers to make informed decisions to build more plants and create more connections to design a sustainable EIP.