Assessment of reclaimed water development capacity in urban agglomerations: A method based on the fuzzy n-cell height...

In the face of global challenges such as increasing water resource demand and pollution, enhancing reclaimed water utilization is key to alleviating water pressure in urban agglomerations. This study constructs a fuzzy evaluation system based on the four-dimensional coupling of "reclaimed water, conventional water, ecological environment, and socio-economic systems" to assess reclaimed water development capacity. By introducing left and right extension domains to construct a fuzzy n-cell height index, the capacity of each city is quantified and compared. A city condition discriminant function is also developed to analyze deviations between actual utilization and targets and propose tailored improvement measures. Taking the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration in China as a case study, Xi'an has the highest development capacity (0.5491), while Shangluo has the lowest (0.2309). Tianshui and Linfen are in an advanced condition, Baoji, Xianyang, Weinan, and Tongchuan are in a hysteresis condition, and other cities show equilibrium. This study provides references for coordinating development and alleviating supply-demand imbalances in urban agglomerations.