Analysis and identification of key factors and drivers affecting integrated water resources management based on futures studies approach: Case study of Tabriz County

The system of water resources is influenced by several factors affecting in a particular geographical environment or in a wider space. Sometimes, these effects are such that, the conditions for access to healthy water resources have been faced with massive problems and performances of water resource planning and management. The goal of water resource planning and management is to match the socio-economic system demand of water with the supply of the water system through administrative control and management, without damaging sustainability of ecosystem. This can be achieved by identifying effective and influential factors, both from water supply side, and demand side of the various sectors of the society. Therefore, in the present study, it was attempted to identify key factors and drivers affecting in the future of water resources of Tabriz County till 2041 vision based on the Integrated Water Resources Management. Meanwhile, to apply appropriate policy strategies. Based on some 46 primary factors were identified by the panel of experts by using the resource review and Delphi method. In order to determine the key factors and effective drivers in this system, 15 factors were introduced using the cross impact matrix. The final findings indicate that environmental and economic factors have the largest share as the main actors in this collection and will play a more effective role in the future of water resources and it is expected that driver affecting of County water resources to be one of the environmental and economic components.