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Groundwater resources worldwide face significant challenges that require urgent implementation of sustainable measures for effective long-term management. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is regarded as one of the most promising management technologies to address the degradation of groundwater resources. However, in urban aquifers, locating suitable areas that are least vulnerable to contamination for MAR implementation is complex and challenging. Hence, the present study proposes a framework encapsulating the combined assessment of groundwater vulnerability and MAR site suitability analysis to pinpoint the most featured areas for installing drywells in Kayseri, Turkey. To extrapolate the vulnerable zones, not only the original DRASTIC but also its multi-criteria decision-making (MCDA)–based modified variants were evaluated with regard to different hydrochemical parameters using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Besides, the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) rationale was adopted to signify the importance level of criteria and the robustness of the framework was highlighted with sensitivity analysis. In addition, the decision layers and the attained vulnerability layer were combined using the weighted overlay (WOA). The findings indicate that the DRASTIC-SWARA correlates well with the arsenic (AUC = 0.856) and chloride (AUC = 0.648) and was adopted as the vulnerability model. Groundwater quality parameters such as chloride and sodium adsorption ratio, as well as the vadose zone thickness, were found to be the most significant decision parameters with importance levels of 16.75%, 14.51%, and 15.73%, respectively. Overall, 28.24% of the study area was unsuitable for recharge activities with high to very high vulnerability, while the remaining part was further prioritized into low to high suitability classes for MAR application. The proposed framework offers valuable tool to decision-makers for the delineation of favorable MAR sites with minimized susceptibility to contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overarching aim of the present work is to explore the perception differences of stakeholders, i.e., municipalities (MN), water administrations (WS), non-governmental organizations (NGO), and universities (UN), playing vital roles in the decision mechanisms regarding one of the sustainable flood mitigation techniques, i.e., low impact development (LID) practices. As being rewarding alternative to conventional drainage techniques, four different LID strategies, i.e., green roof (GR), bioretention cells (BC), permeable pavement (PP), and infiltration trench (IT), and three of their combinations were adopted to the densely urbanized Ayamama River basin, Istanbul, Turkey. The performances of the LIDs were comprehensively evaluated based on three pillars of sustainability (i.e., social, economic, and environmental) using a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework containing the implementation of fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP) and the VIKOR (VIse KriterijumsaOptimiz acija I Kompromisno Resenje) for finding the weights of constraining criteria and prioritizing the LID scenarios, respectively. The major outcomes of this research showed that experts from MN, WS, and UN put forward the environmental dimension of sustainability, whereas respondents from NGO concentrated on the social aspect. Furthermore, MN and WS highlighted initial investment cost as the most determining criterion in optimal LID selection. On the other hand, criteria weights regarding the judgments of the experts attended from NGO revealed the significance of community resistance in specifying the optimal LID practices, while aesthetic appearance was the major concern of the academia. Hence, the present study, as an initial attempt, enabled critical standpoints for discovering perceptions of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the prevailing arid climate and rapid population growth, groundwater resources face unprecedented challenges globally, including depletion, seawater intrusion, and contamination. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) technologies have emerged as valuable solutions to address these pressing issues. However, identifying suitable regions for MAR activities is a complex task, particularly at the country level. Therefore, in this study, we propose a robust approach that combines the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to delineate suitable sites for MAR structures. The proposed model was applied to Djibouti, a hot, dry, and water-stressed country. We identified a set of nine decision criteria and conducted a pairwise comparison survey to determine their relative importance. Additionally, the TOPSIS method was employed to integrate the decision layers and prioritize the study area. The results highlight the significance of rainfall, the slope, and the NDVI as the most influential decision parameters, while the drainage density has the least impact. A suitability analysis reveals that 16.38%, 17.96%, and 30.41% of the country have a very high, high, and moderate potential for MAR activities, respectively. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis demonstrates the stability of the proposed model, affirming the usefulness of the generated suitability map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drywells are effective facilities in recharging stressed urban shallow aquifers. • Proper sitting is of utmost important for their performance and pollution mitigation. • Hybrid MCDA model for delineating auspicious zones for drywells implementation. • Comparison between obtained criteria weights and those adopted in similar studies. • The model is expected to offer a comprehensive framework to states lacking drywells guidelines. Artificial recharge in urban aquifers is of vital importance due to the increase in urbanization resulting in a reduction in natural recharge along with groundwater overdraft in many regions across the globe. Despite existing several managed aquifer recharge (MAR) technologies, land availability for installation and limited municipal budget restrict their usage, especially in urbanized areas. Hence, drywells were introduced as a vadose zone recharge (VZR) facilitating the recharge of stressed aquifers with low land impact and financial resources. Also, identifying suitable sites for drywell implementation is complex due to the number of driving factors involved. In this paper, the integrated fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach was proposed to delineate a site suitability map for artificial groundwater recharge using drywells in the city of Kayseri, Turkey. Nine decision criteria were selected and the weights of each (sub-) criterion were determined through the FAHP. The results indicated that hydraulic conductivity, depth to groundwater, soil texture, and land use/land cover were the most determining criteria with 33.9%, 17.8%, 11.2%, and 10.1% of weights, respectively. Also, the stability and robustness of the criteria weights attained were validated through sensitivity analysis within the FAHP framework. Finally, the study area was divided into 54 sub-regions based on the road-network and the TOPSIS was applied to prioritize the sub-regions to help identify promising areas for the vadose zone wells construction. Here, a similar approach can be adopted by municipalities lacking guidelines and standards for sitting drywells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban water scarcity was assessed based on fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS integration. • 44 action plans under seven dimensions was assessed depending upon five constraints. • Organized land use planning in urban areas was the most promising strategy. • Primary benefit is a vital concern in evaluating water scarcity mitigation measures. • Integrated water resource planning enhances resiliency and sustainability of cities. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of urbanization on water quality, hydrology, society, and the environment can be minimized through low impact development (LID) practices in urban areas. This study has evaluated the performances of seven different LID scenarios including stand-alone and different combinations of green roof (GR), bioretention cells (BC), permeable pavement (PP), and infiltration trench (IT) in the Ayamama watershed, which is one of the most densely urbanized areas in Istanbul. Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) was used to obtain the performances of LID scenarios in quantitative (i.e., volume reduction and peak runoff reduction) and qualitative (i.e., Total Suspended Sediment, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Nitrate, Total Phosphate reductions) manner. To calibrate the SWMM model, the Parameter EStimation Tool (PEST) was integrated for sensitivity analysis and parameter optimization. A focus group discussion (FGD) was performed to identify the criteria and LID scenarios applicable to the study area. 16 criteria were determined as suitable, based on three dimensions of sustainability such as social, economic, and environmental. The criteria were evaluated in compliance with the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method before performing technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) for a comprehensive assessment of LID scenarios. The results showed that community resistance, operation feasibility, and quantitative benefits were the most significant criteria for LID scenario selection in social, economic, and environmental aspects, respectively. The integrated evaluation showed that the impacts of urban flooding can be reduced significantly with the combination of GR and BC. Thus, this study provides an integrated and sustainable solution to the topic based on the PEST-SWMM-fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS framework. Furthermore, the developed framework could assist decision-makers and governmental authorities to designate optimal LID scenarios. • Performance of several LID scenarios are evaluated. • Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS methods are used for decision analysis. • PEST is used for sensitivity analysis and parameter optimization to calibrate SWMM. • The optimal LID scenario was determined based on the "so called" three pillars of sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]