Integrated modeling of quality and quantity for water resources management: case study in the Upper Paranapanema Basin

Abstract

This study introduces an integrated model for water resources planning and management that accounts for both the quantity and quality of water in watersheds and reservoirs. Therefore, it provides a comprehensive approach for better understanding and assessing water systems. The model facilitates analyses of the spatial and temporal dynamics of hydrological processes, pollutant transport, and the behavior of rivers and reservoirs. The study evaluated pollutant load transport in the Upper Paranapanema Basin by applying the Soil Moisture Accounting Procedure (SMAP) model, Muskingum method, Streeter-Phelps buildup/washoff model, and zero-dimensional (0D) models to estimate inflows to the Jurumirim reservoir. A Python-based public library was developed to model all hydrological processes. The model calibration yielded a NSE, KGE, PBIAS and RMSE result of 0.746, 0.778, 6.5% and 73.3 m 3 s − 1, respectively. Indicating a robust simulation that attests to the versatility and reliability of the proposed approach. The methodology outlined in this research enables comprehensive water quality simulation at basin scale, thereby serving as a tool for understanding water quantity and quality dynamics and support decision-making regarding water resource planning and management.