In this article, seven different energy resources that can be used for water pumping in urban households have been evaluated using 12 objectives representing the energy, economic, and environmental systems. Of the 12 objectives, nine are quantifiable ones, while the remaining three are nonquantifiable. To handle such a mixture of objectives, an integrated model using goal programming and analytic hierarchy process has been employed. A detailed sensitivity analysis has also been performed. The analyses indicate that while biogas and electricity generated from fuelwood gasification rank to be the best of the seven energy resources, photovoltaic electricity requires some reduction in its operating cost and/or increase in the electricity generation efficiency. Diesel and electricity generated from biogas or diesel do not provide any scope to be the preferred resources. An additional scenario has revealed that the nonpreference of grid electricity is due to high environmental emissions. © 1995 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.