Environmentally Sound Water Resources Management in Catchment Level using DPSIR Model and Scenario Analysis

Maharlou-Bakhtegan Catchment in the southern part of Iran is faced with water scarcity.This problem is exacerbated by environmental degradation, climate change effects, mismanagementof water resources, along with a major dependence of water demand supplies on the limitedgroundwater resources. In this study, a combined approach of DPSIR model along with the scenarioanalysis was employed to derive the optimal management strategies for the environmentally soundwater resources management of Maharlou-Bakhtegan Catchment considering the conjunctive useof surface and groundwater resources. Cause-effect relationships were identified by DPSIR frameworkand 15 scenarios were developed based on them. For evaluating each scenario, 9 integrated waterresources management indicators were introduced and evaluated by MODSIM.The resultsdemonstrated that in scenario Scen-14, restriction for the irrigation area development, as well asother management solutions, which led to 100% supply of domestic and industrial water demandsand 91% supply of agricultural water demands. Also in the last scenario the value 1.79 kg/ m3 wasreceived by the Agricultural water productivity indicators. Moreover, by satisfying all IWRMindicators as well as enhancing zero for negative water balance of the aquifers in Scen-14, it is clearlyindicated that this scenario revealed more efficient management solutions for the environmentallysound water resources management of the catchment.