Using Weight-TOPSIS method to evaluate water saving levels in the beneficiary areas of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe water transportation project

Abstract

【Objective】 The Yangtze-to-Huaihe hydraulic project was initiated in 2016 to move water from the Yangtze River to the Huai River to alleviate water shortage in the latter. In this paper, we analyze water saving levels in the beneficiary areas located in Henan province. 【Method】 We selected 11 water-related indexes covering agriculture, industry, living and ecological environment in the comprehensive analysis to establish an index system to evaluate water-saving levels in the beneficiary areas. A TOPSIS model was then derived, based on the combined weight of AHP-CRITIC method to evaluate water-saving levels in 2020. 【Result】 Among the nine counties we studied in the analysis, one county (Yongcheng) reached grade I, five counties (Liangyuan, Luyi, Suiyang, Zhecheng and Xiayi) reached grade II, and three counties (Dancheng, Huaiyang, Taikang) reached grade III water saving levels. Overall, water-saving levels in the beneficiary areas were higher. Water consumption per 10000-yuan GDP, water-saving irrigation rate, domestic water consumption per capita in urban areas, leakage losses from the water supply network in urban areas, and reclaimed water utilization were the factors that influenced the water-saving levels in the beneficiary areas. The evaluated results were consistent with the ground-truth data observed in the studied areas. 【Conclusion】 The TOPSIS method based on the AHP-CRITIC combination weighting is reliable for evaluating water-saving levels at regional scale. Our results provide guidelines for optimal allocation of the diverted water to the beneficiary areas in Henan province.

Keywords

• yangtze-to-huaihe water diversion project
• water-saving level
• index system
• ahp-critic method
• topsis method