Ranking of Consumption Management Strategies in Drinking Water Distribution Networks by Using Multiple Attribute Decision Making

Water consumption management strategies seek to reduce water consumption and establish a reasonable and sustainable balance between water supply and demand. The purpose of this paper was to rank the consumption management strategies in drinking water distribution networks by using Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM). To this end, four strategies and five attributes were considered to form the decision making matrix. The strategies were: 1) Cultural approach; 2) Using low-flow fixtures; 3) Increasing water tariffs; 4) Reducing permissible water consumption without income. Five attributes were: 1) Strategy implementation cost; 2) Time required for the implementation of the strategy; 3) Customer satisfaction from the strategy implementation; 4) Impact of strategy on consumption reduction; 5) Impact of strategy on unaccounted for water. These studies were conducted in Central Province Rural Water and Wastewater Company. In order to determine the score of each strategy from each index, group decision making was used and a questionnaire was distributed among 14 authorities of the Company. The average scores were incorporated into the decision matrix. Furthermore the weight of each attribute was determined using the Entropy method. In order to process the decision making matrix, WASPAS method was used and calculations were implemented in Excel 2010 spreadsheet. Finally, the strategies were ranked and the results showed that the best strategy to reduce drinking water consumption in the villages of this province is to use low-flow fixtures. Therefore, it is recommended that these fixtures be made available to the public in accordance with a comprehensive plan and also the necessary training in this regard be provided.