Date published:
Publisher:
Type:
Water utilities particularly in the developing countries continue to operate with considerable inefficiencies in terms of water and revenue losses. With increasing water demand and scarcity, utilities require effective strategies for optimum use of available water resources. Often the information needed for strategic planning is inadequate and decisions have to be made on the basis of limited and uncertain data. Whereas decision-makers endeavour to obtain accurate and reliable data, they are often hindered or frustrated by the cost and time needed to collect the data. In this paper, an integrated multi-criteria decision-aiding framework for strategic planning of water loss management is presented. The PROMETHEE II method was applied within the framework in prioritizing water loss reduction options for Kampala city, Uganda. A strategic plan that combines selective mains and service lines replacement and pressure management as priorities is the best compromise based on preferences of the decision makers and seven evaluation criteria characterized by financial-economic, environmental, public health, technical and social impacts. The results show that the most preferred options are those that enhance water supply reliability, public health and water conservation measures. This study demonstrates that even without sufficient resources to generate precise data, utilities in developing countries can still use appropriate tools to plan and prioritize water loss reduction options.