Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Water, Agriculture & Environment, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2
Departement of Environmental Planning, Management & Education, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Drinking water for many rural settlements in the country is sourced from groundwater. Key characteristics of Aliabad-Katul County include a large number of rural households, the predominance of agriculture and animal husbandry as major occupations, and dispersion of villages, which create conditions conducive to groundwater pollution. This study aims to identify internal and external causative and influential factors on groundwater pollution, propose priority strategies, and determine a strategic approach to drinking water quality management in this region. The general method of this research was descriptive-analytical. First, information obtained from the exploratory interview and questionnaire (including feedback of 32 local experts) was matched withthe Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, and Opportunities (SWOT) matrix and the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) for prioritizing the strategies. Then, results were transferred to the Strategic Position and Action Assessment (SPACE) matrix for specifying the approach to dealing with the problem. The primary cause of drinking water pollution was the lack of interaction between health centers located in rural areas, village councils, and households, as well as unavailability of basic health facilities. Three prioritized strategies were as follows: 1) focusing councils on and justifying the importance of sanitary disposal of waste and reducing drinking water pollution, 2) aligning different rural sectors to improve the quality of drinking water, and 3) reducing excess costs through promoting hygiene culture in the rural community. Finally, the strategic approach was classified as aggressive, indicating that numerous villages in the region should employ growth and reinforcement strategies to move forward decisively and confidently.
Keywords