What the analytical matrix was for the site selection process for the Katrine Water Project.

This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:A large number of different criteria were used to consider all of the selected sites. For each criterion, the sites were measured or assessed so that they could be ranked in order of preference. The option appraisal information was used in a series of Value Management workshops to present complex information in a manageable form. Decisions were made by comparing options, identifying key trade-offs and reaching consensus on the preferred options through discussion and debate between the different disciplines in the project team (engineering, environmental, construction, operations, finance). When trying to balance the different criteria there is no analytical matrix which can simplify the site selection process. Annex D of the Environmental Statement submitted with the Planning Application for the project notes: "for a project of this complexity, with its many different components and different, often conflicting, criteria, it would be difficult if not impossible to develop a robust, numerical, multi-criteria decision method which would meet the rigorous standards required". Accordingly, a variety of tools including simple ranking, rating, scoring and weighting, trade-off graphs and pair-wise comparisons were utilised to compare options and allow overall ranking of options.