Economic Based Investment Planning for Integrated Water Resources Management

Abstract

A computer-based water Resources Management utility named Integrated Water resources Management Decision Support System (IWRM-DSS) is developed in the present study. It is intended to provide a comprehensive analysis and management tool for water resources allocation and distribution. IWRM-DSS tackles three main applications in the field of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which are (water accounting/management), (water allocation), and (investment prioritization).

The first application provides a comprehensive analysis of the existing Water Cycle Balance, identifying the gaps, and set a Decision Support System (DSS) for optimal Water Resources Management. The model reflects the widely articulated demand for a holistic assessment that considers the possible benefits of greater inter-sectorial regulation, cooperation, coordination and cost-sharing, as well as an increasingly commercialised approach to water sector service delivery as populations continue to grow, the economy continues to grow, and water becomes more scarce to demand.

The second application develops an integrated water allocation master plan with a corresponding investment plan based on the National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) and Joint Integrated Sector Approach (JISA) platform. This will include identifying information sources, defining harmonised standards for data collection, elaborating operational protocols for data processing, and sharing, and delivering at least three "start-to-finish" Water Modeling operations.