Water Transfer & Hydraulic Structures
Kazem Esmaeili
Volume 11, Issue 3 , December 2024
Abstract
In the last decade, in order to provide some of the water needed by industry and drinking through desalination of sea water (southern Iran), huge projects have been designed and implemented, some of which have been completed and some of which are still in the beginning or the middle of the way. Since ...
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In the last decade, in order to provide some of the water needed by industry and drinking through desalination of sea water (southern Iran), huge projects have been designed and implemented, some of which have been completed and some of which are still in the beginning or the middle of the way. Since the introduction of such plans, experts and trustees have presented different opinions in this regard, which can be divided into several parts for an overview of these opinions.
Water Transfer & Hydraulic Structures
Davod Reza Arab
Volume 11, Issue 3 , December 2024
Abstract
Before making any decisions about water transfer, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the costs and benefits of this plan for each region and determine its economic and social consequences. It is necessary to consider the economic value of water in each region, taking into account market factors as ...
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Before making any decisions about water transfer, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the costs and benefits of this plan for each region and determine its economic and social consequences. It is necessary to consider the economic value of water in each region, taking into account market factors as well as development needs, as a criterion for measuring the economic justification of this plan.
Unfortunately, so far in Iran, decisions about water transfer projects have been made mainly based on government support or political pressures, and the comprehensive economic and social evaluation of these projects has not been sufficiently considered.
Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Amirali Boroumand; Saeed Karimi
Abstract
Reviewing lessons learned from studies of "soft" and "hard" water resources management strategies is one of the most important tasks of environmental researchers. The current research, with a qualitative approach based on the paradigm of social interpretation, using the “synthesis research” ...
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Reviewing lessons learned from studies of "soft" and "hard" water resources management strategies is one of the most important tasks of environmental researchers. The current research, with a qualitative approach based on the paradigm of social interpretation, using the “synthesis research” method, investigated the ecological, economic, and social effects of implementing water transfer projects. The studied population was all the studies in the last two decades evaluating the effects of water transfer projects in Iran and the world in Persian and English languages and the sample population considering the two key criteria of “maximum diversity” and “reaching the theoretical saturation point” in addition to applying restrictions such as the year of publication. Accurate to the topic in the title, abstract or keywords, research quality, and relevance of the reviewed papers, the sample of the current research was determined 59 articles. Then the text of these articles was carefully examined and in three stages of coding. The findings of the research showed that the most important ecological effects of these projects are the “drying up of springs and lakes”, “drop in underground water level and intensification of land subsidence” and “decrease in land potential for agricultural activities”. The most important social effects of these plans are “increasing social anxiety”, “decreasing social security”, “weakening social networks”, “increasing migration to metropolises” and “losing trust towards officials”. Also, the most important economic effects of these plans are “increasing economic losses due to the destruction of natural resources and the environment”, “reducing the economic well-being of villagers” and “reducing animal husbandry capacity”. To validate the findings, direct quotations from the text of the selected articles were used. In the last stage, the axial, and selective codes led to the presentation of the conceptual schema of the current research, and the final conceptual model was reviewed by 4 experts and finalized after modification.
Water Transfer & Hydraulic Structures
Neda Poustizadeh; Davoud Horri; Ramin Rameshi
Abstract
Access to drinking water is one of the most important human needs and citizenship rights. For this reason, the supply, transmission, treatment, and distribution of sanitary drinking water in order to meet the water needs of urban and rural subscribers is one of the primary tasks and priorities of every ...
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Access to drinking water is one of the most important human needs and citizenship rights. For this reason, the supply, transmission, treatment, and distribution of sanitary drinking water in order to meet the water needs of urban and rural subscribers is one of the primary tasks and priorities of every government. The Ghadir Water Project in Khuzestan, aimed at supplying water to the central, western, and southwestern cities of Khuzestan Province, is of great significance as the largest water transfer project in Iran. Accordingly, the current study focuses on the operation of the Ghadir Khuzestan water transmission system under defensive conditions using WaterGEMS software modeling. First, the hydraulic model of the studied transportation system is prepared and calibrated using hydraulic software. In the second stage, the quality of delivered water, as well as the strategy to ensure the sustainability of water transfer in emergency and defense conditions, were examined. A comparison of the quality results indicates that the establishment of the Northern Ghadir pump station and the replacement of the Dez Dam with the Karkheh Dam as the new water supply source for the Ghadir water transmission system will have a significant effect on improving the quality of the water being transferred in compliance with the water quality standards of Iran, as it reduces the EC amount of the water being sent by about 68%. According to the proposed solution in this research, in the emergency and temporary shutdown conditions of the main pumping station, which is responsible for pumping 90% of the total water volume required for the target cities, 60% of this water volume can be supplied through the Northern Ghadir pump station to ensure the continuity of water supply.
Water Transfer & Hydraulic Structures
Farshad Alipour Nasirmahale; Rasoul Mirabbasi Najafabadi; Ali Torabi Haghighi
Abstract
The management of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of the world faces many challenges due to the spatial and temporal mismatch between water supply and demand. One of the solutions to overcome these challenges is the implementation of inter-basin water transfer projects. However, these projects ...
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The management of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of the world faces many challenges due to the spatial and temporal mismatch between water supply and demand. One of the solutions to overcome these challenges is the implementation of inter-basin water transfer projects. However, these projects have themselves created new challenges as they manipulate the natural conditions of the basins. The impacts of implementing these projects can overshadow a variety of issues, including not only technical issues but also environmental, economic, social, political, and even security issues. Investigating all of these aspects requires an interdisciplinary approach to the problem and its challenges to understand the mutual effects of the individual aspects on the overall conditions of the project and thus increase the chance of project success. In this study, library resources and a descriptive-analytical method were used to investigate the challenges associated with the Beheshtabad Water Transfer Project. The results of the investigation have shown that although most of the studies and the focus of managers and even researchers have been on the technical aspect of this project attempts have been made to create the basis for the implementation of the project by making changes in this area, the challenges related to the Beheshtabad project are not only technical and this project may affect various aspects of the lives of the residents of the source and destination basins. If no solution is found to deal with the possible consequences, the project may bring further challenges, especially in the social and security areas. Therefore, dealing with the conditions of the Beheshtabad project may be one of the most important challenges for the country's governance in the last decade.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Sara Attaran; Abolfazl Mosaedi
Abstract
Floods have been the third most destructive disaster after earthquakes and tropical storms in the past few years. Since many cities are located in floodplains or on the coasts due to economic interests, flood risk management has become a significant issue. The potential for flood damage in cities is ...
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Floods have been the third most destructive disaster after earthquakes and tropical storms in the past few years. Since many cities are located in floodplains or on the coasts due to economic interests, flood risk management has become a significant issue. The potential for flood damage in cities is very high because, in addition to river flooding causing flooding in cities, the concentration of population and valuable assets causes flood damage to be very widespread in urban areas. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the components of the flood risk function properly and to make effective plans for each one according to the conditions of each region. In this study, flood risk is defined as a function of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. Considerable focus has been placed on the role of poverty in exacerbating flood risk because, in big cities, management strategies in different urban areas should be different, depending on the cultural situation and level of economic development of those areas. Also, this article emphasizes the necessity of participatory management and planning in flood-prone areas and highlights the consequences of excluding affected communities and stakeholders. Finally, various sections are presented to create a comprehensive framework for flood risk management.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Nahid Kamaladini
Abstract
The Iranian Qanat Chain Case, which includes 11 prominent Qanats, was added to the World Heritage List in 2016 after meeting two of UNESCO's six criteria. This record confirms the high importance of Qanats in the formation and sustainability of human settlements on the central plateau of Iran. ...
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The Iranian Qanat Chain Case, which includes 11 prominent Qanats, was added to the World Heritage List in 2016 after meeting two of UNESCO's six criteria. This record confirms the high importance of Qanats in the formation and sustainability of human settlements on the central plateau of Iran. On the other hand, the international obligations arising from UNESCO laws emphasize the necessity of preserving and improving the status of this living heritage. Nevertheless, studies indicate that the condition of Qanats in Iran is becoming increasingly worrying. Violating the Qanats boundary is one of the fundamental problems that threaten the health of the Qanat structure and the amount and quality of their water. In this descriptive study, which was conducted using a qualitative method and in-depth interview tools, 30 informed individuals in the Bam, Narmashir, Fahraj, Gonbaki, and Rigan regions were surveyed. This region has ancient, numerous, and high-flowing Qanats, but it faces widespread problems caused by violations of the Qanats’ boundary. The research results identified six main factors: insufficient public awareness, limited access to information about the qanats, poor documentation and mapping, lack of appropriate laws, lack of enforcement support for existing laws, and weak local management. These factors have played a significant role in the continued violation of the Qanat boundary in these areas.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
Asghar Tahmasebi; Fateme Nemati Jowzeqani
Abstract
Climate change and increasing population growth have made the problem of water scarcity in arid regions a serious challenge to the sustainability of many human settlements. Investigating the perspectives and priorities of local stakeholders plays a key role in the success of water scarcity adaptation ...
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Climate change and increasing population growth have made the problem of water scarcity in arid regions a serious challenge to the sustainability of many human settlements. Investigating the perspectives and priorities of local stakeholders plays a key role in the success of water scarcity adaptation programs and has received less attention and consideration in previous studies. Using Q methodology, this study analyzed water scarcity adaptation strategies in Taybad County from the perspective of key actors. For this purpose, first, a discourse space for local adaptation strategies was created through content analysis of 20 interviews with local experts, which, after refining and categorizing, 30 key propositions of water scarcity adaptation strategies were categorized into 6 axial components. Then, the selected propositions were prioritized using a Q-table by 35 local activists who were selected through purposive sampling. Finally, the collected data were analyzed in KADE software using principal component analysis (PCA) and Varimax rotation. Based on the research findings, emphasis on educational-promotional activities, institutional interventions, and water resource consumption management constitute three local perspectives on water scarcity adaptation strategies, respectively, which suggest the development and facilitation of non-agricultural jobs and strengthening institutions to improve the efficiency and productivity of water resources.
Water Management and Economy
Afshin Mottaghi; Mohammad Yosefi Shatori; Arash Ghorbani Sepehr
Abstract
Isfahan Province is located in the arid and semi-arid region of Iran and is considered one of the country's leaders in the production and export of agricultural and industrial products. These characteristics have created challenges for local governance in this province. In the current research, the upcoming ...
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Isfahan Province is located in the arid and semi-arid region of Iran and is considered one of the country's leaders in the production and export of agricultural and industrial products. These characteristics have created challenges for local governance in this province. In the current research, the upcoming scenarios in the field of virtual water application in the local governance of Isfahan province have been investigated using a future research approach. This research is descriptive-analytical, and data were collected through library and field methods and analyzed using Micmac, Scenario Wizard, and Vensim software. The results of the research showed that coordination between various institutions and stakeholders, management of water resources in the agricultural sector in line with other sectors, the collective interest approach, development of water-intensive industries, climate change, rainfall patterns, and population size are among the key variables affecting the use of virtual water in local governance of Isfahan province. In the analysis of key drivers and possible scenarios, the output of the Scenario Wizard software showed that out of the 18 situations on the scenario page, the largest number of situations are related to scenarios that put the local governance of Isfahan province on a crisis path. These situations comprise 38.88 percent of the total situations on the scenario page. Therefore, the future situation of virtual water use in Isfahan province was assessed as critical.
Water Management and Economy
Seyed Hamed Moosavirad; Amir Reza Torabi; Seyed Morteza Moosavirad
Abstract
Kerman Province is located in the arid region category. The volume of its groundwater aquifers has been declining in recent years, and the continuation of this situation will have unfortunate consequences. This study aims to model urban water consumption in Kerman Province using System Dynamics (SD) ...
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Kerman Province is located in the arid region category. The volume of its groundwater aquifers has been declining in recent years, and the continuation of this situation will have unfortunate consequences. This study aims to model urban water consumption in Kerman Province using System Dynamics (SD) in the Vensim PLE+ software and investigate the impact of supply and demand management on water resource preservation. For SD modeling, the model variables, their types, and the relationships between them were first identified, and mathematical formulas for each were derived. The modeling results indicate that the difference between urban water supply and demand reached a maximum of 61 million m3 in the years 2011 to 2021. Subsequently, water consumption management policies were examined, including “artificial groundwater recharge,” “separation of drinking water from non-potable water,” “managing network losses,” “controlling subsidized water prices,” and “managing household consumption patterns.” Simulation results reveal that “artificial groundwater recharge” as the most effective solution, can increase the water resources of Kerman to more than 100 million m3 per year. Additionally, this research demonstrates that modeling a complex system like urban water consumption using SD simplifies understanding of the model, identifies critical variables, tests solutions, and can serve as a useful management tool for decision-makers.
Water Management and Economy
Fatemeh Momeni Mahmouei; Ali Akbar Naji Meidani; Narges Salehnia; GHasem Eslami
Abstract
One of the biggest challenges facing societies today is the increasing demand for water, food, and energy in the long term due to resource scarcity. Since Iran is an arid and semi-arid country and its natural resource supply is in a fragile balance due to unsustainable management, climate change, and ...
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One of the biggest challenges facing societies today is the increasing demand for water, food, and energy in the long term due to resource scarcity. Since Iran is an arid and semi-arid country and its natural resource supply is in a fragile balance due to unsustainable management, climate change, and continuous droughts, this study aims to design an integrated model for the sustainable economic development of water, energy, and food for Iran. In this paper, the Grounded theory was used. In order to collect data with 37 experts in related fields, semi-structured interviews were conducted until reaching theoretical saturation, After a process of continuous data comparison and open, axial, and selective coding, the concepts were organized in the form of 264 primary codes, 66 secondary codes, and 17 categories. The final result of the study is presented in the form of an integrated environmental model of sustainable economic development of water, energy, and food. Based on the pattern obtained in this study, it can be stated that the vulnerability of water, energy, and food resources in Iran is aggravated by population growth, economic growth, excessive exploitation, management factors, climate changes, governance, sanctions, and political issues. Therefore, to create a nexus in the integrated management of water, energy, and food in the country, it is necessary to change and modify the approach and method at several levels. At the highest level, i.e. the political and institutional level, there should be a kind of convergence and integration between the involved institutions including public, private, and civil in these three areas for proper planning. In the next step, the optimal management of resources, the use of appropriate methods and technologies, education and use of social capital capacity, interaction between stakeholders, and population policies should be examined and improved. Accordingly, the necessity of the necessity of paying attention to the linkage approach as a suitable policy strategy for sustainable development has been addressed.
Water Management and Economy
Ramin Fazloula; Shadi Saraf; Javad Vejahat; Alireza Emadi
Abstract
Today, the optimal use of water in various sections to increase productivity and reduce losses is one of the basic assumptions in consumption management. Therefore, in the present research, the concept of productivity in different water consumption sections, including groundwater, drinking water, and ...
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Today, the optimal use of water in various sections to increase productivity and reduce losses is one of the basic assumptions in consumption management. Therefore, in the present research, the concept of productivity in different water consumption sections, including groundwater, drinking water, and special attention to chemical properties in the sewage treatment plant in Sari City has been investigated. In each section, using the appropriate algorithm, the available data has been evaluated to measure productivity. In the sewage treatment section, the analysis of effective parameters in Sari City sewage treatment was performed in two methods Artificial Neural Network and Wavelet. The output results of these models showed that due to the high value of the R2 statistic, there is an acceptable and direct relationship between the measured and estimated characteristics. In the groundwater sector, according to the results obtained, the wavelet network performed better in estimating the desired variables than the ANN method. In the water distribution network section, the results of wavelet analysis and the outputs of the WaterGems software revealed that the deterioration of the studied water distribution network plays a significant role in losses and reduced productivity, in such a way that about 47 percent of the water entering the network is out of reach and wasted in different ways.
Water Quality, Recycling and Wastewater
Hanieh Ghorbani jafarbigloo; Alireza Chackoshian Khorasani
Abstract
One of the most important environmental issues in the world, and especially in Iran, is the accumulation of solid waste because its amount in the gross domestic product and national income is worrying. Solid wastes such as citrus wastes have no economic value and are considered useless. Therefore, it ...
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One of the most important environmental issues in the world, and especially in Iran, is the accumulation of solid waste because its amount in the gross domestic product and national income is worrying. Solid wastes such as citrus wastes have no economic value and are considered useless. Therefore, it is necessary to use these wastes by providing a suitable method to valorize them. On the other hand, the wastewater of many industries contains a wide range of organic and mineral pollutants. Its cost-effective treatment is necessary to solve the water crisis. The adsorption method using cheap and available biosorbents is one of the most efficient methods for removing pollutants from industrial wastewater. Thus, using citrus wastes and improving their adsorption properties with the physical and chemical treatments, carbonization, and a combination of these methods simultaneously solves the problem of citrus wastes and industrial wastewater. In this review study, different adsorbents obtained from citrus wastes along with their production methods are investigated, and their adsorption behavior is expressed based on isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic models. Also, adsorbent regeneration, economic evaluation, and suggestions for the development of this approach are provided.
Surface and Groundwater Resources
Maryam Sodori; Somaye Janatrostami; Kourosh Mohammadi
Abstract
Shallow alluvial aquifers in watersheds with multiple rivers experience complex hydrological and hydraulic interactions among different subsystems, such as the aerated zone, groundwater, and surface water. In such aquifers, combining hydrological models of surface water and groundwater is crucial for ...
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Shallow alluvial aquifers in watersheds with multiple rivers experience complex hydrological and hydraulic interactions among different subsystems, such as the aerated zone, groundwater, and surface water. In such aquifers, combining hydrological models of surface water and groundwater is crucial for accurately simulating and describing these processes. This study focused on developing and evaluating the MIKE SHE integrated hydrological model and the MIKE 11 hydrodynamic model to simulate hydrological and hydraulic processes in the Foumanat aquifer. To establish a dependable model, groundwater levels and river flow were concurrently calibrated at the control points of observation wells and hydrometric stations within the study area. Calibration was performed based on sensitivity analysis, utilizing parameters such as saturated hydraulic conductivity, leakage coefficients, and Manning's roughness coefficient. Despite the natural heterogeneity of the region, the model demonstrated satisfactory performance, yielding an absolute error of less than one for groundwater level estimation and less than 0.5 for flow rate estimation at the hydrometric stations. During the wet season (October to March), the combined evaporation and transpiration (ETa) amounts to 0.4 times the total rainfall. In contrast, during the dry season (April to September), the combined evaporation and transpiration (ETa) equates to 7.3 times the total rainfall, emerging as the main contributor to water loss. These findings apply to a dry year, implying that these ratios would increase in dry and average years.
Water, Ecosystem and Environment
Masoud Rezaei
Abstract
Traditional ecological knowledge is the knowledge of indigenous peoples that has been acquired during their lifetime and experience in a specific environment over generations and is an inseparable aspect of the bio-cultural heritage of indigenous communities. Using the documentary research method, this ...
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Traditional ecological knowledge is the knowledge of indigenous peoples that has been acquired during their lifetime and experience in a specific environment over generations and is an inseparable aspect of the bio-cultural heritage of indigenous communities. Using the documentary research method, this article investigates the role of indigenous knowledge in the sustainable management of natural resources by introducing implications in the world. The traditional ecological knowledge has a history as long as the life history of indigenous peoples, which negates the oppressive and exploitative attitude towards natural resources and the superiority of man over nature and its inferiority, and emphasizes protecting nature, choosing a lifestyle in harmony with nature, and appreciation of nature. In addition, an ongoing gift exchange between humans and the more-than-human world, the stewarding of nature, and an eco-centric view of it are the inherent characteristics of indigenous peoples, which provide alternative solutions to overcome the current environmental crises, which are mainly the result of the anthropocentric and developmentalist view of human beings towards natural resources and the environment.
Water Transfer & Hydraulic Structures
Mahbobeh Farzandi
Volume 11, Issue 3 , December 2024, Pages 189-196
Abstract
This study examines the water supply challenges in Mashhad urban area and after-transfer projects. The status of Mashhad Plain's water resources, the decreasing share of dams in supplying the city's drinking water, and the increasing reliance on groundwater extraction have prompted authorities to consider ...
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This study examines the water supply challenges in Mashhad urban area and after-transfer projects. The status of Mashhad Plain's water resources, the decreasing share of dams in supplying the city's drinking water, and the increasing reliance on groundwater extraction have prompted authorities to consider water transfer projects. These projects have been thoroughly analyzed in short-term, mid-term, and long-term perspectives. The water transfer projects from Hezar Masjed and the Oman Sea have been introduced as the most significant ongoing initiatives, along with discussions on some of their environmental and social challenges. The gap between water resources and consumption in Mashhad Plain and the overlooked issues in the Oman Sea water transfer project—such as the focus on structural solutions while neglecting demand management, ambiguity in project financing, the role of the private sector and its impact on national security, and the necessity of social participation in water consumption management—have been addressed. Finally, strategies for water resource management have been proposed, including governance system reforms, increasing stakeholder participation, establishing trust-building mechanisms, integrated water resource management, and implementation of innovative demand management approaches. These include water markets, enhancing groundwater recharge, reducing agricultural water consumption, wastewater treatment, and artificial aquifer recharge.
Risk, Sustainability and Resilience
K Esmaili; V. Mortazavi Amiri; Maedeh Oskouhi
Volume 11, Issue 3 , December 2024, Pages 197-240
Abstract
Transferring water from the sea to plateau is one of the important and challenging issues in water resources management in Iran. A compilation of opinions from experts and stakeholders in the water sector regarding water transfer has been developed through roundtable discussions and both in-person and ...
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Transferring water from the sea to plateau is one of the important and challenging issues in water resources management in Iran. A compilation of opinions from experts and stakeholders in the water sector regarding water transfer has been developed through roundtable discussions and both in-person and virtual interviews. The synthesis of various viewpoints on the topic of water transfer reveals significant differences in perspectives. Critics of water transfer primarily cite the failure to implement sustainable development criteria prior to the necessity of water transfer as the main reason for their opposition. In contrast, proponents emphasize the critical conditions of water scarcity and the associated challenges, particularly those that may arise in the drinking water sector. However, what remains overlooked by both supporters and opponents of water transfer projects is the question of why the country has reached such a state regarding water resources, the role of decision-makers in this situation, and why there is no system in place to hold the responsible parties accountable.
