Temporal-Spatial System Dynamic Changes in Transboundary River Basin Treatment Costs

Water-related investments have been designed to contribute to economic development and public welfare. This study primarily aimed to perform a cost-benefit analysis on maintaining the sustainable development of water resources and improving the level for water pollution treatment in a transboundary river basin. This work systematically examined the organic connections of economic growth, wastewater discharge, and investment in environmental treatment. An integrated predictive model of transboundary river basin's treatment cost (TRBTC) was proposed to analyze the temporal-spatial dynamic changes in transboundary wastewater production and discharge, and modifications in treatment investment costs. The Songhua River Basin (SRB) was selected as the study area, and an integrated model of TRBTC was utilized to conduct temporal-spatial simulation, and analysis of wastewater treatment and discharge costs in the transboundary river basin during China's 13th Five-Year Plan. Results indicated that operational costs and investment costs of wastewater treatment in the SRB present an overall increasing tendency during the 13th Five-Year Plan. Respective operational and investment costs were 41.53% and 37.97% more than the costs during the 12th Five-Year Plan. With the continuous increase in treatment investment costs, total water pollutant discharge in the SRB has been controlled and water quality has been improved. This study offers practical relevance and provides a reference for management of investment and operation costs in water pollution control for further research and practical applications.