An Analysis of the Role of Key Players in the Management of Drinking Water Crisis in Kerman City

Today, water consumption has increased due to population growth, economic and health development, and changing consumption patterns. Therefore, the key factor for the sustainable use of these resources is the optimal allocation and the important responsibility of water industry managers. In the meantime, Kerman City, like other desert cities of Iran, is facing a shortage of drinking water, which requires the organized management of all institutions. According to the research problem, the present study analyzes the role of key players in the management of the drinking water crisis in Kerman City. The current research is descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature and method and is among applied research. Research data and information have been collected through library and field studies (actor-actor and actor-target questionnaire). The statistical population of the research includes specialists and experts in the field of drinking water in Kerman city, 25 of whom were selected using a two-stage Delphi method. The data obtained from the questionnaire has been analyzed by the method of stakeholder analysis through Mactor software. The results of the analysis of stakeholders indicate that the government (province and governor), water and sewerage, and municipality as effective actors, planners, virtual space, and citizens have a dependent (effective) role and agricultural jihad has a dual role. Most actors' relationship with the goals is related to the correct use of water by citizens, advertising in cyberspace, providing appropriate programs by experts in the water field, strengthening communication between water-related institutions, protecting groundwater, dealing with violators, and implementing projects. Blue is the government. In general, it can be concluded that cooperation and interaction between the stakeholders of the drinking water crisis management in Kerman City, without considering their benefit is necessary to help in the integrated management of drinking water.
 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
Kerman is a city that in 2021 with an area of 15,400 hectares and a population of 619,565 people is dependent on well water so that the height of the groundwater table decreases by about one meter per year due to withdrawal from agricultural wells around the city. On the other hand, the amount of water consumption in Kerman has increased significantly compared to previous years. Unfortunately, the water shortage in Kerman has caused a drop in water pressure in houses, so that sometimes water is supplied to areas of the city by tankers. In some neighborhoods of Region 4, including the industrial town, conflicts over water occur. Given the problem and importance of the research, the present study seeks to analyze the role of key players in managing the drinking water crisis in Kerman City, and the research question is posed as follows: What is the status and position of the actors and stakeholders who influence and are affected by the drinking water crisis management in Kerman city?
 
2-Materials and Methods
The present research is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature and method. In this regard, the research information has been collected in the following two ways:
1- By referring to the library in the form of (books, documents, articles, websites, etc.) to extract theoretical information.
2- Through fieldwork (questionnaires), in which in this context, two questionnaires, actor-actor and actor-objective, were distributed and collected among experts. The statistical population of the research consists of relevant experts and specialists. The statistical sample of the research includes 25 experts in the field related to the two-stage Delphi method (water engineering group - agricultural engineering group - geography group - municipality expert - water and wastewater expert - foundation and housing expert - Agricultural Jihad expert) who have expressed their opinions regarding the role of actors and objectives. The information obtained from the questionnaire was analyzed using the stakeholder analysis method using Mector software, and a matrix, map, and graph were obtained.
 
3- Results and Discussion
The results of the competitiveness of the actors show that the government (provincial and governorate) has the highest competitiveness with a value of 1.43, and water and wastewater and municipality are in the next ranks with a value of 1.14 and 1.11, respectively. The results of the matrix of direct and indirect effects of the actors on each other show that among the actors, the government (provincial and governorate) has the highest direct effect with a value of 22, and citizens have the lowest direct effect with a value of 14. On the other hand, citizens have the highest indirect effect with a value of 21, and the government has the lowest direct effect with a value of 12. The matrix and table of convergence and divergence of the actors indicate that the highest level of convergence between the actors of drinking water crisis management is related to the government (provincial and governorate), water and wastewater, water planners, and cyberspace with a value of 61. On the other hand, the lowest level of convergence between citizens is (46). The results of the relationship between actors and goals indicate that the highest relationship between actors and goals is related to the proper use of water by citizens, cyberspace advertising, providing appropriate programs by water experts, strengthening communication between water-related institutions, protecting groundwater, dealing with violators, and implementing government water projects. The grounds for these connections should be formed to help manage the drinking water crisis in Kerman City. Apart from climatic factors, the management of drinking water in Kerman City is achieved with the cooperation of all organizations and institutions involved in it. In the meantime, firstly, the governorate and the governorship, which are at the top and the first role of the city and even the province, and secondly, water and wastewater, as the main roles of producing and distributing water among citizens, can manage the drinking water crisis in Kerman city. In addition to performing tasks such as completing government water projects, law enforcement, strengthening communication between institutions, etc., must be completed.
 
4- Conclusion
Officials and institutions involved in drinking water management in Kerman City should guide citizens to the correct use of water by implementing policies, programs, tariffs, warnings, and legal action because citizens as consumers have a fundamental role in drinking water management. Of course, citizens themselves must also have the necessary cooperation and have a good future with a good quality of life. The objection raised against drinking water management in Kerman city is the low and insignificant presence in cyberspace for advertising proper water consumption, which has the least television programs, and ultimately planners, experts, and elites related to water as citizens and a sense of belonging to the city present their ideas and programs for water and wastewater so that they can be used. However, considering the desert location of Kerman city and the location of various actors and goals of drinking water management, the sponge city model, building water reservoirs, using alternative waters such as flood management, wastewater, and sewage, planting plants that are suitable for dry land, etc. The results of this study are in line with the results of Ansari et al. (2017), who believed that achieving a sustainable consumption pattern is only possible by applying components such as observing the consumption pattern, creating a culture, amending tariff laws, and encouraging, correcting, or deterring policies in the macro-management sector. Considering the factors determining water demand on the one hand and consumption management reduction measures on the other hand should be considered as a special communication channel between water supply policymaking, availability, and renewable resources.