The Role of Knowledge Management in Improving the Operation and Maintenance of Water Facilities in Northwest Iran

This study was conducted to examine the role of knowledge management in improving the operation and maintenance of water facilities in the northwest of Iran. Considering the increasing challenges in water resources management, infrastructure deterioration, insufficient transfer of employee experience, and the need to enhance operational efficiency, knowledge management has emerged as an effective approach to improving the performance of water-related organizations. The research is applied in nature and was carried out using a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population consisted of 480 managers, engineers, technicians, and operational experts working in the operation and maintenance divisions of water facilities across the provinces of East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, and Ardabil, from which 214 individuals were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the standardized Knowledge Management Questionnaire developed by Probst et al., and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach. The findings revealed that all dimensions of knowledge management—including knowledge identification, acquisition, development, sharing, utilization, and retention—have significant and positive effects on the performance of water facilities’ operation and maintenance. Among these dimensions, knowledge utilization and knowledge sharing showed the strongest impacts. These results underscore the importance of implementing a comprehensive knowledge management cycle in regional water organizations. Overall, the study concludes that knowledge management can substantially enhance operational efficiency, increase system resilience, reduce human and technical errors, extend the lifespan of equipment, and support improved decision-making, thereby serving as a strategic tool for effective water asset management.