Quantitative Analysis of the Role of Groundwater Qualityto Promote Rural Development IndicatorsBased on Morris Model Case Study: Khonj County

Presence and continuous operationof water has playan essential role in existence and stability of rural settlements. Today, conservation and optimal utilization of water resources is an important global issue. This problem has become more acute especiallydue to occurrence recent droughts. Therefore, It is necessary to recognize the value and importance of water for existence and development of human societies by case studies of different areas, because recognition and analysis of various aspects of this problem and increasing public awareness can promote extraction and optimal usage of water.In this study, the role and significance of groundwater quality for rural development of Khonj county –located in Fars province– has been discussed. After dividing the region into seven rural systems and evaluation of their development based on Morris model, the correlation coefficient between rural development and groundwater quality was calculated by SPSS program. The result was that because ofuncertainty annual rainfall, rural activities and livelihoods is depends on extraction of usable underground water, and degree of rural development of Khonj county has a correlation of more than 70% with groundwater quality. Therefore, with regard tohigh dependence of rural development with underground water, strategies for extraction and optimal usage of groundwater leads tosaving this vital factor and increase available water, and finally would provide new capacities for further rural development.