Multicriteria analysis applied to the management of urban pluvial waters

Abstract

ABSTRACT The urbanization process significantly changes natural drainage processes within a river basin, for instance with the increase of volume of rainwater drained superficially it also increases the peak flows of water bodies, degradation of the water quality, and the sediment generation, among others. Rainwater drainage management plays a key role in urban areas, becoming increasingly complex, involving not only hydrological and hydraulic aspects, but also environmental, social and health issues, as well as other technical and high costs issues. This complexity leads, increasingly, to the use of multicriteria analysis as a support for decision-making. To deal with this, this work aimed to apply a multicriteria analysis methodology, using PROMETHEE method, to issues of urban rainwater drainage. The results indicated that the application of multiparticipative decision making and multicriteria analysis to possible scenarios of hydraulic interventions is well suited to reality.