Optimal Exploitation Management of the Abarkouh Aquifer Plain with System Dynamics Approach

For many years, people have been using water as an inexpensive resource, and many do not believe in limiting its consumption. This attitude is problematic and has led to a water crisis. Today, besides the water crisis, we are faced with improper water resources management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The increasing demand for water, the limitation of resources, and the principle of sustainability in water management, make it impossible to supply all existing water needs. The increasing use of surface and groundwater resources in Abarkouh Plain as a result of development of agriculture and related industries in this plain has intensified the decline of its aquifer. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a framework that can investigate the optimal allocation of water in this area. The purpose of this research was to study the status of Abarkouh Plain water resources and to evaluate the possible policies in this area. After reviewing the background and identifying the factors, a dynamic model of factors affecting the status of aquifer in Abarkouh Plain and their causal relationships were presented and analyzed through System Dynamics. According to the analysis, agricultural consumption had the greatest threat in the plain. The model was simulated in Vensim and various policies have been tested to improve the status of water resources in Abarkouh plain. The simulation showed that the policy of increasing water price, implementing the plan of fertilizing clouds and decreasing the area under cultivation had a good effect on aquifer balance index and volume.