Application of a New Improved Weighting Method, ESO Method Combined with Fuzzy Synthetic Method, in Water Quality Evaluation of Chagan Lake

• Main Authors: Wenbin Zhao, Changlai Xiao, Yunxu Chai, Xiaoya Feng, Xiujuan Liang, Zhang Fang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Water
• Subjects: ESO method; entropy weight method; over-standard multiple method; single-factor evaluation method; fuzzy synthetic evaluation method; Chagan Lake
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/10/1424

The existing weighting methods mainly comprise subjective and objective weighting and have a certain degree of subjectivity, with certain requirements for the professional ability of the users and unstable results. Therefore, an improved weighting method based on the entropy weight, over-standard multiple, and single-factor evaluation methods, referred to as the ESO method, is proposed. The advantages and advancements of the ESO method are demonstrated in this study by combining it with the fuzzy synthetic evaluation method to evaluate the water quality of Chagan Lake wetland from 2007 to 2016. The main conclusions of this study are as follows: 1. The ESO method has more comprehensive consideration factors, lower requirements for the professional ability of users, and more stable weighting results than the traditional weighting method. Therefore, it is highly suitable for beginners and frontline staff who are not professionally qualified and cannot accurately conduct subjective weighting. Meanwhile, owing to the amendment rule and emphasis on the local weight of the sample in the ESO method, it is applicable to time-series samples. 2. The ESO method better allocates the amendment weights to indicators with a higher degree of pollution; thus, the final comprehensive evaluation results are relatively conservative. However, in contrast to the single-factor evaluation, the conservatism of ESO method is the result of the comprehensive effect of all samples; thus, the conservative result of the ESO method is more reasonable. 3. The water quality of Chagan Lake in 2009 and 2015 was class IV, which did not meet the standard, while that in remaining the eight years was class III, which met the requirements of the national 13th Five-Year Plan. The results of this study can provide a new approach to weighting calculation methods and a basis for the protection and treatment of the ecological environment of the Chagan Lake wetland.