A multi-voiced model for decision-making in water resource management. A case study in the urban area of Mar del Plata city, Argentina

Water management is concerned with action on the ground. The goal of this paper is to conduct a multi-voiced decision model for water resource management in the urban area of Mar de Plata city, Province of Buenos Aires, through the use of a multicriteria analysis tool. Using the Criterium Decision Plus system, criteria and subcriteria were integrated into a multi-voiced decision model for the prioritization of zones for water resource management. The criteria chosen were Potable Water Supply, Sanitation, Water Quantity, Potential Sources of Contamination, Flood Protection, and Equity. The model identified four of the seven zones as 'high' to 'very high' priority. Priority scoring ranged from 0.15 to 0.543. Regarding the criteria, "Potable Water Supply," "Water Quantity," and "Flood Protection" were identified as the main ones contributing to the final model results. The results show the starting point for generating proposals for water management actions in this urban area.