Evaluating Alternatives for Drinking Water at Deployed Locations

<p>Because of potential improvements to water security and cost savings military decision makers may want to consider new means of providing potable water to Airmen in deployed locations. Drilling for water and field bottling show great potential because of the increased security and lower per unit cost when compared to bottled water from approved sources. However the selection of the best means to supply water is a hard decision which must balance multiple objectives (e.g. security palatability and convenience) against limited resources (e.g. cost airlift trucks and personnel). The Value Focused Thinking (VFT) methodology was used to create a multiobjective decision analysis model that quantifies a decision-maker's values regarding the many different means of providing potable water. Consisting of four fundamental values and seventeen measures the model captures the Air Force's objectives through a proxy decision-maker regarding this decision. Using three different notional bases the model was tested by evaluating five initial alternatives for each base. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to provide additional insight into the tradeoffs and to generate potentially even better alternatives which were tailored to the specific location and decision-maker's objectives. Although results will certainly vary based on individual situations (e.g. temporary bases) the model shows that more of the decision-maker's values are met if water is supplied through the drilling of wells versus the continued reliance on commercial bottled water. More emphasis on drilling wells would not only potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars but would also provide a much safer water supply thereby improving the chances for operational success.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>