An Improved Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process for the Allocation of Water Rights to Industries in Northeast China

To facilitate water management and efficient utilization of water resources, the allocation of water rights to individual industries must be underpinned by a rational and defensible process. This study aimed to develop an improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method of allocating water rights to different industries and focused on Qing’an County, northeast China as a case study. An evaluation index system for allocation of initial water rights was established, and incorporated physiographic, societal, economic, and ecological criteria. The system classifies four categories of second-level indices, 14 third-level indices, and 30 fourth-level indices. The order of priority of the evaluation index was determined and the total weight of initial water rights for different industries was calculated using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method. Results showed that the indices for the allocation of initial water rights ranked in descending order of their total weights coefficient were: (1) agricultural water rights: 0.9508; (2) residential water rights: 0.0240; (3) water rights for non-agricultural production: 0.0173; (4) environmental water rights: 0.0078. Agricultural water consumption accounted for the largest proportion of total water because the study area is a major grain production area. The study provides a theoretical basis for the allocation of water rights and water rights trading in northeast China.