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Modelling assessment of water quality and quantity at the basin scale

Maragkaki Antonia

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Summary

This thesis aims to implement and evaluate Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to improve water quality and assess the adequacy of available water resources at the watershed level. The studied watersheds are located on the island of Crete, specifically in the Chania region. The implementation and evaluation of NBS were carried out in the Koiliaris watershed, which covers an area of 210 km² and falls within the municipality of Apokoronas. Previous studies have indicated that the Koiliaris watershed suffers from severe soil degradation and the measurement of sediments in Ag. Georgios station is high. Utilizing the Karst-SWAT model, after updating the hydrological modeling of the area, three different NBS (terraces, riparian forests, and livestock management) were evaluated regarding their impact on water quality. The results of the Karst-SWAT model demonstrated that the combination of terraces and riparian forests resulted in a maximum reduction of soil erosion and sediment load by 83%. The adequacy of available water resources was assessed within a Chania prefecture region, encompassing the Keritis and Koiliaris watersheds. The Keritis watershed, covering an area of 130 km², is part of the Platanias municipality. These basins represent typical Mediterranean river systems characterized by complex hydrogeology and serve as crucial sources for meeting the water demands of the Chania prefecture. Following the update of the hydrological modeling of the area using the Karst-SWAT model, the WEAP model was selected to manage and distribute the availability of water resources for the period 2000-2020. Furthermore, climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 were applied for the period 2020-2100 to assess future water resource availability under projected rainfall conditions. The WEAP model results indicated no unmet water demand for the current period and for the periods under the applied scenarios. Based on the results of this study, the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model has proven to be a reliable tool for simulating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) within watersheds, while the WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning) model has demonstrated its reliability as a tool for water management, offering a comprehensive framework for evaluating water allocation, demand, and supply scenarios.

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