Assessment of the sustainability indicators of groundwater resources (case study of Mahidasht aquifer)

Groundwater is a limited and vulnerable resource that is reversible in the conditions of balance between nutrition and extraction. Mahidasht plain of Kermanshah province, which in the past was one of the most fertile and vast plains in the west of Iran, the trend of decreasing groundwater, especially in recent years, is quite evident. Methodology It has been tried in this article by using Mahidasht plain underground water modeling using ModFlow model, Mahidasht plain underground water stability based on analysis of the current situation and four management scenarios (scenario of continuation of the current trend, scenario of adjustment of permits and reduction of 30 The percentage of underground water extraction, the scenario of removing unauthorized wells and adjusting the permits and reducing the extraction of underground water by 40 percent and the scenario of increasing the extraction of underground water and developing unauthorized cultivation) should be investigated. The results show the unstable situation of the Mahidasht aquifer, and the application of the management scenario of 30-40% reduction in groundwater extraction will not stabilize the central areas of the aquifer. The unstable situation of this plain means many social, economic, political, security and environmental risks. In other words, this plain, more than ever, wants to control the harvest and should be prioritized in the water scarcity adaptation programs of politicians, planners, managers and all water guarantors in the region and removed from the list of susceptible areas for agricultural development. It is recommended to follow the principles of quality sustainability of the aquifer, and encourage farmers to change the harvesting pattern from agriculture to industry with incentive policies.