A Framework to Support the Selection of an Appropriate Water Allocation Planning and Decision Support Scheme

Water is becoming a scarce resource in many parts of the world, leading to increased competition amongst water users. Optimized water allocation is increasingly important to balance the growing demand for water and the limited supply of accessible clean water. The literature on water allocation schemes and decision support systems, developed for application in specific water management areas or watersheds, was critically reviewed. Although the literature is rich in studies on the application of a broad range of water allocation schemes, there is a lack of information available on the methodology and process of selecting the most applicable scheme that balances the local realities and requirements of stakeholders while considering the local context with regard to the economic, social and environmental impact of water usage. In this article, a framework is presented that water management practitioners can use to select applicable water allocation planning schemes and associated decision support systems based on the characteristics and requirements of the specific water management situation. The framework was used to analyse the water supply situation in South Africa (SA), taking broader factors into account. Based on this, a generic conceptualized water allocation planning and decision support framework for a typical SA water management area is proposed.