Identification of priority areas for rehabilitation in wastewater systems using ENTROPY, ELECTRE and TOPSIS

Abstract

Wastewater system failures cause operating conditions to deteriorate. Therefore, risk factors should be identified and rehabilitation priority should be established by considering all factors. Determining rehabilitation priority areas is very important in terms of public health, service quality and operating cost. The aim of this study, which was carried out in Malatya, Turkey, was to determine rehabilitation priority in wastewater systems by integrating the ENTROPY, ELECTRE and TOPSIS methods. Some 26 physical, hydraulic, operating and cost factors were considered. The factor weightings were determined by the ENTROPY method to define the factors’ contributions, based on the field data. Rehabilitation priorities were then determined separately using ELECTRE and TOPSIS, taking the factor weights and field data into consideration. Priority regions in rehabilitation were obtained similar according to both methods. The results obtained will provide a reference for wastewater system management and determination of rehabilitation priorities. HIGHLIGHTS The priority regions in the rehabilitation of wastewater systems were defined.; An integrated methodology of ENTROPY, ELECTRE and TOPSIS was proposed.; The physical, hydraulic, operating and cost factors were considered.; The data of the factors were obtained according to field measurements.; The weights of factors were determined by the ENTROPY method based on field data.;

Keywords

• entropy
• multi-criteria decision analysis
• pipe rehabilitation
• wastewater systems