Prioritizing urban water scarcity mitigation strategies based on hybrid multi-criteria decision approach under fuzzy environment

This study was undertaken to be a remedy to urban water scarcity phenomena having escalated consequences with the contemporaneous effects of climate change and over-urbanization. Hence, a broad list of mitigation strategies comprising 44 action plans under seven dimensions was assessed depending upon five constraints (i.e., cost-effectiveness, time/effort required, feasibility, primary benefit, and secondary benefits). To realize the overarching aim of this research, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) each subjected to the fuzzy set theory were employed. In this regard, the fuzzy AHP was utilized for determining the weights of constraining criteria, while the prioritization of the strategies was performed via the fuzzy TOPSIS. The results revealed that the primary benefit is the most prevailing criterion compared to its counterparts. In addition, procuring organized land use planning and limiting new growth in urban areas was found as the most promising strategy to combat urban water scarcity phenomena. The findings further highlighted the effectiveness of conducting integrated water resource planning against climate change and fostering the use of sustainable materials domestically in not only mitigating urban water scarcity but also increasing the resiliency and sustainability of the urbanized cities.