Values of 1-5 are assigned by the user for importance of each main criteria with 1 representing little to no importance of a criteria of 5 representing very important criteria [4, 9, 10, 19]. The scale of 1-5 was chosen for the criteria importance since there are five technologies considered in each analysis and this scale is considered simple for users to understand.
Table 7 summarizes the rating for each technology for each criterion in the absence of weighting. As we can see, for stormwater quantity function, infiltration practices have the best score. Bioretention, vegetated filter strip, rainwater harvesting, and soil restoration are the best LID techniques in terms of stormwater quality function. As a result, environmentally, they should be the best alternatives. In addition, vegetated filter strip, permeable pavement, level spreader and soil restoration require less maintenance. According to the below Table, vegetated filter strip, permeable pavement, level spreader and soil restoration have the highest scores for winter performance. In terms of cost, vegetated filter strip, permeable pavement, level spreader are the best LID practices. As a result, they can be acceptable for municipal organizations. However, varying levels of performance across a wide range of criteria and conflicting stakeholder views could complicate the selection process of these practices.
Table 7
Summary of rating for each technology for each criterion
Resource Criteria | Bioretention | Vegetated Swale | Vegetated Filter Strip | Permeable Pavement | Rainwater Harvesting |
Stormwater quantity function | 3.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
Stormwater quality function | 4.0 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
Cost | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
Maintenance | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 |
Winter Performance | 3.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 |
Resource Criteria | Green Roofs | Infiltration Practices | Level Spreaders | Constructed Filter | Soil Restoration |
Stormwater quantity function | 2.7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 |
Stormwater quality function | 3.5 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Cost | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 |
Maintenance | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
Winter Performance | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 |
The results of this study provide a greater insight into the opinions and concerns of stakeholders of stormwater management.
3.1. Weighted Average Method (WAM)
As we can see in the Table 8 and Figures 1 and 2, for municipal governments, infiltration practices and constructed filter are respectively the best and worst techniques. It seems logical because infiltration practices have some distinct advantages mainly around the stormwater quantity function and cost, and it is exactly what is more important for municipal governments. For building and land developers in addition to infiltration practices, vegetated filter strips have also the high score due to the same reasons. In fact, stormwater quality function has less importance for these groups. For planner, vegetated filter strip and constructed filter have respectively the highest and lowest score. Planners are more sensitive about maintenance and winter performance, and as it is mentioned in previous sections vegetated filter strip needs the less maintenance and better winter performance among LIDs. For private homeowner, infiltration practices are the best techniques. However, vegetated filter strips have importance for NGOs as much as infiltration practices. That is because these techniques have high stormwater quality function, and it is the most important factor for environmental organizations.
Table 8
Scores of alternatives for selected stakeholders (WAM method)
Stakeholders | Bioretention | Vegetated Swale | Vegetated Filter Strip | Permeable Pavement | Rainwater Harvesting |
Municipal governments | 3.40 | 3.20 | 3.64 | 3.00 | 3.31 |
Building and Land Developers | 3.25 | 3.27 | 3.92 | 3.67 | 3.25 |
Planner | 3.21 | 3.23 | 4.07 | 3.86 | 3.07 |
Private homeowner | 3.37 | 3.28 | 3.89 | 3.22 | 3.41 |
Local Business Owner | 3.30 | 3.39 | 4.33 | 3.67 | 3.48 |
Organizations (NGOs) | 3.48 | 3.18 | 3.91 | 2.82 | 3.33 |
Stakeholders | Green Roofs | Infiltration Practices | Level Spreaders | Constructed Filter | Soil Restoration |
Municipal governments | 2.44 | 3.95 | 3.00 | 2.43 | 3.45 |
Building and Land Developers | 2.29 | 3.98 | 3.67 | 2.33 | 3.58 |
Planner | 2.68 | 3.98 | 3.86 | 2.29 | 4.07 |
Private homeowner | 2.37 | 3.94 | 3.22 | 2.44 | 3.52 |
Local Business Owner | 2.41 | 3.94 | 3.67 | 2.44 | 3.81 |
Organizations (NGOs) | 2.94 | 3.91 | 2.82 | 2.55 | 3.97 |
Finally, the summary of this project for WAM method can be shown in the Table 9 and Figure 3. For these groups of stakeholders, using WAM method, infiltration practices and vegetated filter strip can be chosen as the best techniques. Also, according to stakeholders’ preferences and main criteria, green roof and constructed filters are not recommended here. Selection of permeable pavement, level spreaders and bioretention heavily depend on stakeholders’ preferences.
Table 9
Rating of alternatives (WAM method)
| Bioretention | Vegetated Swale | Vegetated Filter Strip | Permeable Pavement | Rainwater Harvesting |
Worst | 8 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
Best | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Average | 5.83 | 6.17 | 1.67 | 5.50 | 5.83 |
| Green Roofs | Infiltration Practices | Level Spreaders | Constructed Filter | Soil Restoration |
Worst | 10 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 5 |
Best | 7 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
Average | 9.17 | 1.67 | 5.50 | 9.5 | 2.67 |
3.2. Preference Ranking Organization Method (PROM)
As we can see in the Table 10 and Figures 4 and 5, infiltration practice is still the best technique for municipal government. However, from PROM method, green roofs have the lowest score. Vegetated filter strip and infiltration practices have the highest score among LIDs for the most of stakeholders. In other side, green roofs and constructed filters have the lowest score for different group of stakeholders, respectively.
Table 10
Scores of alternatives for selected stakeholders (PROM method)
Stakeholders | Bioretention | Vegetated Swale | Vegetated Filter Strip | Permeable Pavement | Rainwater Harvesting |
Municipal governments | -0.04 | -0.21 | 0.27 | -0.05 | 0.04 |
Building and Land Developers | -0.25 | -0.21 | 0.35 | 0.23 | -0.13 |
Planner | -0.25 | -0.21 | 0.41 | 0.30 | -0.25 |
Private homeowner | -0.14 | -0.25 | 0.36 | 0.03 | 0.00 |
Local Business Owner | -0.31 | -0.31 | 0.53 | 0.19 | -0.11 |
Organizations (NGOs) | 0.05 | -0.30 | 0.39 | -0.16 | 0.02 |
Stakeholders | Green Roofs | Infiltration Practices | Level Spreaders | Constructed Filter | Soil Restoration |
Municipal governments | -0.41 | 0.54 | -0.05 | -0.30 | 0.23 |
Building and Land Developers | -0.54 | 0.46 | 0.25 | -0.38 | 0.21 |
Planner | -0.50 | 0.32 | 0.29 | -0.50 | 0.39 |
Private homeowner | -0.47 | 0.50 | 0.06 | -0.36 | 0.28 |
Local Business Owner | -0.56 | 0.39 | 0.25 | -0.50 | 0.42 |
Organizations (NGOs) | -0.32 | 0.41 | -0.18 | -0.45 | 0.55 |
Finally, the summary of this project for PROM method can be shown in the Table 11 and Figure 6. For these groups of stakeholders, using PROM method, vegetated filter strip and infiltration practices can be chosen as the best techniques. Using PROM method, rank of vegetated filter strip is more variable compared to WAM method. Also, according to stakeholders’ preferences and main criteria, green roof is not recommended here. The installation of the green roofs has very little impact on the overall watershed response.
Table 11
Scores of alternatives for selected stakeholders (PROM method)
| Bioretention | Vegetated Swale | Vegetated Filter Strip | Permeable Pavement | Rainwater Harvesting |
Worst | 8 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
Best | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Average | 6.33 | 7.33 | 1.83 | 5.00 | 5.67 |
| Green Roofs | Infiltration Practices | Level Spreaders | Constructed Filter | Soil Restoration |
Worst | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 5 |
Best | 9 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
Average | 9.67 | 1.83 | 4.83 | 9.17 | 2.67 |