Evaluation of different options of inter-basin water transfer system using multivariate decision making method (Case study: Beheshtabad water transfer project)

The increasing water resources demand for various purposes, such as agriculture, drinking and industry, has faced many difficulties and limitations in achieving programmable water. In recent years, inter-basin water transfer is inevitable due to an increase in population cities and inappropriate spatial water resources distribution and is regarding as one of solving ways of water shortage issues. Regarding the complexity of the inter-basin water transfer projects caused by various factors of getting involved such as environmental issues, right of water and water balance, social cautions and immigration, the decision-making about water transfer and inter-basin water transfer effects is very important. Despite the existence of various multivariate decision-making approaches, still these methods have not applied in an appropriate way in national executive and infrastructure projects like inter-basin water transfer. One of inter-basin water transfer infrastructure projects is water transfer from Charmahal_O-_Bakhtiari province to Iran central plateau called the Beheshtabad project. In the present research, 3 recommended options of the Beheshtabad water transfer project considering 14 quantity and quality criteria using pairwise comparisons questionnaires, expert knowledge was ranked using analytical heretical process method that is a multivariate decision-making approach and the best option was identified for water transfer. Results showed that current and capital cost criteria were identified as the most important criteria and reservoir geological issues criteria was identified the less important criterion. Also, the sensitivity analysis of studied criteria was assessed using a change in the weight of each criterion. The results of this study could present a simple way in order to mythological usage of inter-basin water transfer projects especially in some cases that there is no clear vision of hazards and consequences.