Simulation and Optimization of Water Consumption in Hirmand Watershed in order to Integrate Water Resources Management

Abstract

In recent years, due to water shortages in the Hirmand watershed, integrated management of water resources in this area is essential. In this research, the aim is to simulate and optimize water consumption in order to integrate water resources management. For this purpose, the WEAP model was used for simulation and the goal programming model was used to optimize water use. The simulation results showed that in the reference scenario, the Hirmand watershed is facing a water shortage of 586.69‌×‌106 m3 per year. The goals of economic sustainability and ecological sustainability of water use are not met and only the goals of social sustainability of water use are met. After optimization, water consumption was allocated to an activity that achieved the goal of economic sustainability of water use. On average, the economic efficiency of water use in the Hirmand watershed area increased by 99.58%., optimization led to a reduction of water consumption by 382.82‌×‌106 m3‌/‌year and achieving the goal of ecological sustainability of integrated water resources management in the Hirmand watershed area. Thus, the water supply in the environment and agriculture increased to 93.60 and 89.03% respectively.

Keywords

• goal programming
• hirmand watershed
• water use
• weap model