An assessment of the water resources of Mashhad plain with an integrated approach based on water accounting framework

Document Type : review paper

Authors

• masoumeh yousefzadeh chabok ¹
• Ali bagheri ¹
• kamran davary ²

¹ Tarbiat Modares University

² ferdowsi University of Mashhad

10.22067/jwsd.v2i1.46167

Abstract

Integrated assessment of water resources systems, as one of the IWRM basic steps, is the most important stage in the process of planning and implementing water resources management. Water accounting frameworks have been introduced for organizing water data and combining them with economic data to come up with effective strategies towards greater productivity with maintaining or improving environmental and social impacts in water resources management. The scale defined in this study was a catchment area in the case of Mashhad plain. According to the framework proposed by the United Nations for water accounting, after compiling water accounts, the state of water resources in the subject area were analyzed using indicators. Results indicate that less water was allocated to the agricultural sector, as the largest water consumer, in 1385 compared to that of 1380. Instead, comparing those two years, more water was allocated to the industrial sector, which produced more revenue and consumed less water. However, the income generated has increased to 1246 IRR per cubic meter of water in 1385 compared to that of 1380. Also, results indicated that without the removal of agriculture, only with more comprehensive alternatives into the management of supply and demand in this sector, the state of the aquifer as well as the local GDP can be improved.

Keywords

• Water Accounting
• Integrated water resources management
• Productivity Indicators
• Mashhad plain

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