Comprehensive assessment and hierarchical management of the sustainable utilization of urban water resources based on catastrophe theory

Abstract

Evaluation of sustainable utilization of urban water resources is a multi-criteria comprehensive assessment system that needs judgment of decision makers in making decision. To avoid subjectivity of decision makers in the assessment, evaluation method based on catastrophe theory was introduced in this study. A model for assessing sustainable utilization of urban water resources was developed using the method of catastrophe. The model integrated multiple assessment indices of sustainable utilization of water resources according to the inherent contradictions and relative importance of indices without calculating weighs. The model was applied by evaluating the sustainable utilization levels of the water resources of Dalian, China, from 2001 to 2011. Results showed that Dalian had its strongest sustainable level of water resources in 2005 (0.7705). The comprehensive sustainable utilization level in 2002 was the lowest among the 11assessed years (0.4481). The comprehensive sustainable utilization levels of Dalian from 2001 to 2011 were above the ‘generally recognized as sustainable level’. Water resources per capita, seawater intrusion, urbanization, and per capita daily water consumption were the main factors for destroying the sustainable utilization of water resources in Dalian. Decision makers of water resources management should pay more attention to ground water management and adopt more appropriate measures to control water consumption. The model involves simple calculations and requires no index weighing, while at the same time providing a new technique for the comprehensive assessment and hierarchical management of the sustainable use of urban water resources.