Strategic Decision-Making in Sustainable Water Management Using Demand Analysis and the Water Evaluation and Planning Model

Abstract

Water infrastructure management relies on information, communication strategies, and affordable technologies. This paper used demand analysis and modeling to guide strategic decision-making in sustainable water management for the urban cluster in Tlemcen, Algeria. To achieve this, the water supply and demand of the study area were assessed over the past three decades. The Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system was employed considering different future scenarios to help decision-makers consider the best choices for sustainable urban water resources management. The results showed that the average water production and distribution efficiency was only 46% due to the high network loss. Therefore, urgent action should be considered to increase the efficiency of the distribution network. Moreover, the outcome showed severe unmet demand in 2050, which can be managed by improving the water networks, increasing conventional water production, and reducing personal water consumption. In cooperation with key stakeholders, new scenarios can be analyzed to develop efficient water management policies and to implement sustainable water allocation approaches.