Evaluation of sustainable water supply alternatives in karstified rock masses using GIS and AHP methodology for Antalya (Turkey) urban area

Abstract

The demand for water by growing populations and agricultural operations in the Antalya urban area is expected to increase significantly in the near future. For that reason, alternative water sources are important to the future of Antalya. There are a large number of water sources around Antalya to meet the water needs of the city. These are classified as surface water, groundwater, and reclaimed water. One of the options considered is the provision of water from rock pores. Rock pore water has been adopted as a potential alternative for water resources in the area. It is proposed to drill horizontal galleries using the microtunnel machine to the rock masses in carbonate aquifers to obtain new water resources. This study presents a useful method to find water supply alternatives for urban areas like Antalya. In this study, karstified rock masses have been evaluated for the karst hydrosystems and water source from rock pores using geographic information systems and analytical hierarchy process. Additionally, this study discusses the practical value of the provision of water from rock pores, as well as the possibility of application and selection of potential areas.