Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Identifying and Investigating the Factors Affecting Household Water Consumption with the Hybrid Approach of FDelfi, FDelphi-FTopsis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Ph.D. Candidate in Industrial Management, College of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Management, College of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Management, College of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran.
Abstract
Currently, the lack of water threatens the lives of billions of people around the world, and due to population growth, economic growth, and climate change, this trend is expected to continue and become more acute in the future. Therefore, the desire to curb excessive water consumption through identifying the main factors affecting consumer behavior has become very important in the management of drinking water resources. By understanding this necessity, the aim of the current research is to identify and investigate the causal relationships and prioritize the factors influencing the pattern of water consumption in the domestic sector. In this regard, by reviewing the literature in the field of water and interviewing industry experts, factors affecting consumption were identified and monitored in various criteria. Through the fuzzy Delphi method to investigate the action factors and finally 7 main economic, social, cultural, technical and engineering, legal and managerial, spatial and temporal criteria with 26 sub-criteria were identified. Then, through the fuzzy Dematel method, cause and effect relationships were investigated and these factors were evaluated and ranked using the fuzzy Topsis technique. The results obtained from the research on family awareness, use of water-reducing devices, advertising and education, consumption motivation, water tariff and pricing, and the use of new faucets ranked first to sixth. The findings of the research show that among various factors, it is possible to have a high impact on water consumption management by increasing the awareness of households on how to use water and changing the consumption pattern.
Keywords

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Volume 9, Issue 3
Autumn 2024
Pages 4-16

  • Receive Date 31 December 2022
  • Revise Date 17 November 2023
  • Accept Date 26 December 2023