2.3. Normalization of data values
In this study, sustainability assessment is formulated by decomposing appropriate elements at different
hierarchical levels (Figure 1a). The top most level deals with the selection of the groundwater well on the basis of its
optimal sustainability for a given designated-use. The intermediate levels correspond to criteria (i.e. domestic and
irrigation) and sub-criteria representing the suitable water quality parameters for different beneficial uses. The
bottom most level corresponds to fifteen sampling groundwater wells chosen from the study area of Dungargarh
block of Bikaner district in Rajasthan.