Integrated surface and groundwater resources allocation simulation to evaluate effective factors on greenhouse gases production

The water resources management in the developing countries calls for the adoption of the systems approach in accordance with the regulations of the Kyoto Protocol (1997) clean development mechanism. In this research, integrated modeling was carried out under multipurpose scenarios using six reservoir dams with a capacity of 10,500 MW (megawatt) to reduce the greenhouse gas productions. The simulation and development of the integrated water evaluation and planning (WEAP) model within a 50-year period, along with the development of the MODFLOW model in alluvial deposits that interacts with the river, allowed for the analysis of the integrated water resources management system of the Great Karun basin. Several scenarios were implemented following the calibration and validation of the linked integrated model. The components covered by these scenarios included the satisfaction of the in-basin and off-basin demands, the effect of the integrated consumption of water resources, and the effect of increased efficiency of irrigation networks with maximum clean hydroelectricity production and minimum aquifer level decline under drought-induced water shortage conditions. The second scenario, which generates 15,282 GWh (gigawatt-hour) of power, not only optimally meets the future and environmental demands as the best operating scenario but also minimizes the emission of the greenhouse gases in the basin.