DSS and MAF (Multi-agencies framework) for sustainable water management

Water problems throughout the world can be seen as an issue of management, not a crisis of water shortage. Equitable allocation of groundwater resources is a growing challenge due to the increasing demand for water and the competing values placed on its use. Sustainable management of water resources comes with compromises and trade-offs of the other sub-systems (environment, economic and social) and almost ignores other stakeholders’ objectives and benefits. The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the hypothesis that “through multi-agency framework with supporting tools, such as a decision support system (DSS), a comprehensive framework can promote optimal, sustainable and equitable development and use of water resources for present and future generations.” Our framework has been successfully demonstrated in a case study at the Gnangara Mound groundwater system in Western Australia which showed what can be achieved with supporting DSS tools to facilitate and support the multi-agency framework and trade-offs analysis. DSS methods for assessing and planning the future are necessary to maintain the reliability and sustainability of water resource management in the long term. In addition, a DSS would assist the process of communicating the results with stakeholders, government and the community.