Integrated Assessment of Water Resources and Groundwater Sustainability in Alborz Province Using the Watershed Sustainability Index (WSI) and the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) Framework

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Water Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Water Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Water Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Sustainable water resources management in arid and semi-arid regions has become a major challenge due to population growth, urbanization, industrial and agricultural expansion, climate change, and excessive groundwater abstraction. Alborz Province is facing severe water stress as a result of rapid population growth, the concentration of economic activities, and a high dependence on the Hashtgerd, Karaj, and Eshtehard aquifers. This study aimed to conduct an integrated assessment of water resources sustainability in Alborz Province. To this end, the Water Sustainability Index (WSI) and the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework were employed, with four dimensions—hydrology, environment, quality of life, and policy and governance—analyzed simultaneously. Hydrological, climatic, socioeconomic, land-use, and management data were collected from official sources, the Regional Water Company, statistical records, remote sensing products, and policy documents. Following the standardization of indicators on a scale from zero to one, the final WSI was calculated as the arithmetic mean of the four dimensions and classified into five sustainability levels. The results indicated that the hydrological and environmental dimensions contributed most strongly to the decline in overall sustainability. Key factors included decreasing precipitation, rising temperatures, persistent groundwater-level decline, reduced natural recharge, an increasing abstraction-to-recharge ratio, deteriorating water quality, and insufficient environmental flows. In contrast, the quality-of-life and policy dimensions showed relatively better conditions; however, institutional fragmentation, weak coordination, financial constraints, and the absence of an integrated data management system have limited the effectiveness of management interventions. The findings highlight the need for demand management, artificial aquifer recharge, wastewater reuse, improved water-use efficiency, integrated governance, and smart monitoring. The integrated WSI–PSR framework can provide a practical approach for assessing water resources sustainability in other river basins across Iran.

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References

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Hydrogeology
Volume 10, Issue 2
May 2026
Pages 82-94

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