Assessment and Ranking of Factors Influencing Urban Water Management Patterns with an Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) Approach (Case Study: Robat Karim County)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Climatology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Urban water management in Iran is increasingly challenged by water scarcity and climate change, both of which threaten the sustainability and resilience of urban systems. This study evaluates and ranks the key factors influencing urban water management patterns, with a specific focus on the city of Robat Karim. The research employs the Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) technique within an applied‑developmental, mixed‑method (qualitative–quantitative), descriptive‑analytical framework. In the qualitative phase, 64 key indicators across nine factor categories—including institutional‑organizational, economic, technical‑engineering, and political dimensions—were identified through a systematic literature review and expert interviews. Data were collected using a dual‑structured questionnaire administered to 53 specialists, experts, and managers involved in water management. The findings indicate that political and economic factors hold the highest priority for intervention. Among all indicators, political will and leadership and institutional sustainability and effectiveness ranked as the most critical, with mean importance scores of 4.987 and 4.954 (on a 5‑point scale), respectively. Within the economic dimension, cost recovery rate (ranked 3rd) and water tariff adequacy and structure (ranked 6th) were also identified as high‑priority indicators. The IPA results further reveal that several high‑importance indicators exhibit low performance. Notably, water loss management (ranked 10th) and stakeholder participation (ranked 14th) require substantial improvement. These insights provide a valuable foundation for formulating operational strategies and allocating resources more effectively to enhance the efficiency and overall performance of urban water management systems.
 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
The escalating urban water crisis—driven by a complex interaction of environmental, demographic, and managerial factors—has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. In Iran’s predominantly arid and semi‑arid climate, this crisis is becoming increasingly severe due to excessive water consumption, unsustainable groundwater extraction, and, most critically, systemic mismanagement. The city of Robat Karim exemplifies these challenges. Despite its proximity to the Tehran metropolitan area, it faces substantial difficulties, including declining water quantity and quality, aging and inefficient infrastructure, and weak governance structures. In light of the absence of comprehensive and systematic assessments, this study aims to evaluate and rank the key indicators influencing urban water management patterns in Robat Karim using the Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) method. This approach enables the identification of priority areas requiring targeted intervention and improvement. Accordingly, the study addresses the central question: What is the current status of urban water management indicators in terms of their importance and performance, and which indicators should be prioritized for improvement?
 
2-Materials and Methods
This study is a practical and developmental investigation employing a mixed‑method approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative techniques. In the qualitative phase, 64 key indicators across nine major dimensions of urban water management—including institutional‑organizational, economic, technical‑engineering, and political components—were identified through a systematic literature review and expert consultations. These indicators served as the foundation for developing a dual‑structured questionnaire. In the quantitative phase, data were collected from 53 water management specialists, experts, and managers in Robat Karim and Tehran Province. The questionnaire, based on a Likert scale measuring both the importance and performance of each indicator, provided the primary dataset for analysis. The Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) technique was then applied. By calculating the geometric mean of the scores and plotting the results on a two‑dimensional IPA matrix, each indicator was positioned within one of four quadrants: Concentrate Here, Keep Up the Good Work, Low Priority, and Possible Overkill. Combined with the calculation of each indicator’s characteristic weight, this process enabled precise and quantitative prioritization of the factors influencing urban water management.
 
3- Results and Discussion
The results of the IPA analysis revealed substantial gaps between the perceived importance and actual performance of urban water management indicators in Robat Karim. These findings clearly underscore the central role of political and economic dimensions in addressing the city’s water crisis. The indicators political will and leadership, institutional stability and effectiveness, and cost recovery rate emerged as the most critical systemic weaknesses, receiving the highest priority rankings. This outcome is consistent with global research emphasizing that good governance and financial sustainability are prerequisites for meaningful reform. At the same time, it marks a notable departure from traditional water management approaches in Iran, which have historically emphasized technical solutions over governance and institutional reform.

Governance Gap Analysis

The findings highlight a significant disconnect between the theoretical recognition of governance principles and their practical implementation. Indicators such as stakeholder participation and transparency and accountability received high importance scores but demonstrated weak performance. This suggests that the core challenge is not a lack of awareness regarding the value of participatory governance, but rather the absence of institutional mechanisms and structures necessary to embed these principles into practice.

Technical–Engineering Issues

Although technical‑engineering indicators—such as water loss management and network infrastructure status—were identified as major challenges, deeper analysis indicates that these issues stem from more fundamental political and economic shortcomings. Insufficient financial resources, inadequate investment, and limited political commitment hinder the ability to address technical deficiencies. As a result, these challenges cannot be effectively resolved in isolation from broader governance and economic reforms.

Divergence from Emerging Technologies

Despite the increasing global emphasis on smart water management technologies, indicators such as real‑time monitoring were ranked only as medium priorities. This divergence from international trends may be attributed to constraints such as limited financial capacity, institutional inertia, and resistance to technological change. These barriers reduce the likelihood of adopting advanced monitoring and management systems, even though they are widely recognized as essential tools for modern water governance.
 
4- Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the urban water crisis in Robat Karim is rooted primarily in governance deficiencies and systemic inefficiencies, and therefore cannot be resolved through technical interventions alone. The most critical weaknesses identified relate to political will, financial sustainability, and stakeholder participation. Without establishing a robust political framework, a sustainable economic model, and effective mechanisms for meaningful public engagement, technical reforms will remain incomplete and their long‑term impact limited.
Based on these findings, the following policy recommendations are proposed:

Strengthen Governance and Financial Sustainability: Reinforcing political commitment at the highest levels is essential for driving comprehensive reforms. Adjusting the water tariff structure to ensure financial sustainability is equally critical for enabling long‑term system resilience.
Institutionalize Participation and Transparency: Developing practical and effective mechanisms for active citizen participation, along with enhancing transparency and accountability, should be prioritized to bridge the governance gap and build public trust.
Targeted Investment in Infrastructure: Modernizing key water supply and distribution infrastructure—particularly measures aimed at reducing physical water losses—must be supported through adequate and sustainable budget allocations.

Collectively, these recommendations can significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of urban water management in Robat Karim and comparable regions. They provide a strategic foundation for informed policymaking and for advancing the sustainable transformation of urban water systems.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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