Introducing few indices to evaluate the balance of Water Resources and sustainable development (Case Study: Qareh-Qum Basin in Iran)

Document Type : review paper

Authors

• Mehri shahedi ¹
• Fateme Talebi Hossein Abad ²

¹ Master of Agricultural Meteorology, Water and Sustainability Research Committee, Academic Center for Education, Culture and research (ACECR,( Mashad, Iran.

² Master of Agricultural Meteorology, Water and Sustainability Research Committee, Academic Center for Education, Culture and research (ACECR,( Mashad, Iran

10.22067/jwsd.v1i1.34603

Abstract

Water is the limiting and important factor in development of Khorassan-Razavi Province. On one hand sever depletion of water resources due to illegal abstractions as well as over-exploitation; and on the other hand, drastic increase in water demand for different consuming sectors, has highlighted the significant role of water resources in development process. This study has employed few quantitative indices based on renewable water to analyze present Water Resources Sustainability State in Qareh-Qum (Iranian) Basin. The ratio of the consumed water to basin’s renewable water was 1.24; this number with regards to standards reveals the instability of water-budget. In addition, Falkenmark index, ratio of renewable water to population for this basin, was 562 m^3/capita, which shows insufficiency of the basin’s water resources in supporting sustainable development. Average irrigation water requirements for present cropping pattern is 8852 m^3/ha. While renewable water share for each hectare of the basin’s irrigated land is only 6551 m^3. Assuming all renewable water were dedicated to irrigate crops, then only about 74% of the existing irrigated land could have enough water available. In conclusion, the existing state of basin’s water resources evaluates unsustainable and, occurrence of a long-term drought at present situation can endanger the life in the basin. Sustainability in relation to water resources will be subject to balance recovery and optimal use of water in all sectors, especially agriculture.

Keywords

• : Renewable water
• Water resources sustainability
• Water resources indices
• Ratio of the consumed water to renewable water

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