The process of urbanization, which leads to increased population density, changes in land use patterns, and heightened demand for industrial and domestic water use, exacerbates the contradiction between the supply and demand of water resources. This study examines the discrepancies between the supply and demand of water resources amidst urbanization, utilizing data from 110 cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) spanning from 2012 to 2021. The research employs the projection pursuit clustering model and the Dagum Gini coefficient method to evaluate the developmental status of water resources. While the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region maintains a leading position with a water resources development score of 9.827 in 2023, there is a 2.2% increase in intra-regional disparity. The water resources development score for the City Cluster in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (CCRYR) has experienced a decline, from 8.263 in 2012 to 8.016 in 2021; however, a reduction in intra-regional disparities has been observed since the implementation of the 2016 Outline of the Yangtze River Economic Belt Development Plan (YREBP), which suggests the policy’s efficacy. The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone (CCEZ), despite its initially lower level of development, has demonstrated significant growth, with scores rising from 7.036 in 2012 to 7.347 in 2021. Collectively, the water resources development in the YREB exhibits an upward trend, yet the development remains uneven. The CCRYR shows a catching-up effect because of the YREBP, and the differences in other regions are widening. The research results provide decision-making support for water resources planning and management, and are of great significance in promoting the sustainable use of water resources.

In multi-attribute decision making (MADM), complex situations often arise where decision attributes are interval-valued hesitant fuzzy numbers (IVHFNs) and the attributes are interrelated. Traditional decision-making methods may be ineffective in handling such cases, highlighting the practical importance of seeking more effective approaches. Therefore, finding a more effective decision-making approach has important practical significance. By combining the theories of Archimedean S-norms and T-norms, we innovatively propose a multi-attribute decision-making method based on the generalized interval-valued hesitant fuzzy weighted Heronian mean (GIVHFWHM) operator to address the aforementioned issues. Initially, based on the operational laws of IVHFNs and the Heronian mean (HM) operator, we introduce the generalized interval-valued hesitant fuzzy Heronian mean (GIVHFHM) operator and the GIVHFWHM operator. We then examine properties of the GIVHFHM operator, including permutation invariance, idempotency, monotonicity, boundedness, and parameter symmetry. A multi-attribute decision-making model is constructed based on the GIVHFWHM operator. Finally, we validate the proposed model through numerical experiments in MADM. The results demonstrate that the new decision-making method, based on the GIVHFWHM operator, is feasible and effective in handling multi-attribute decision problems involving IVHFNs with interdependent attributes. This approach provides a novel perspective and method for solving MADM problems under interval-valued hesitant fuzzy conditions with interdependent attributes. It enriches the theoretical framework of multi-attribute hesitant decision models and expands the application of the Heronian mean operator within interval-valued hesitant fuzzy environments. This methodology assists decision makers in making more accurate decisions within complex decision-making contexts, enhancing both the scientific rigor and reliability of decision-making processes.