| Popis: |
Utilizing freshwater resources in coastal regions to meet current societal demands without endangering the needs of future generations typically requires a reliance on management actions that are based on carefully chosen criteria. However, when it comes to managing coastal groundwater resources, it is not clear whether there is consensus among water professionals about (a) which criteria are the most important and, (b) how the degree of importance varies among criteria. In this study, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to quantify the degree of importance of various groundwater management criteria by ascribing weights to the criteria. The criteria that are considered in this study are hydrogeologic and aquifer characteristics, socio-economic demands and needs of the study area, population dependent on groundwater resources, available groundwater supply, availability of alternate water sources, financial capability to develop alternate water resources, and political motivation and support to develop alternate water resources. A Likert-type survey was administered to 136 water professionals in various work sectors and locations across the United States to determine important criteria for managing groundwater. Results from the AHP reveal that water professionals perceived hydrogeologic and aquifer characteristics as the most important criterion for groundwater management, with a weight of 28%, followed by the availability of groundwater sources with a weight of 19%. Socio-economic demands and needs of the study area, population dependent on groundwater resources, available groundwater supply, and availability of alternate water sources were of intermediate importance, with weights ranging from 11% to 16%. Financial capability to develop alternate water resources with a weight of 8% and political will with a weight of 5% were perceived to be the least important criteria. The results also reveal that there were no differences in perceptions of professionals from different work sectors or geographic locations. This study illustrates the usefulness of the AHP in managing groundwater resources in coastal regions. |
