Iran-Water Resources Research

Iran-Water Resources Research

Examining the Impacts of Water Market Establishment on Groundwater Resources and Economy in the Absence of Sufficient Management Rules and Monitoring: A Case Study of Hashtgerd Plain

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Roya Dashtizadeh 1
Abdolmajid Liaghat 2
Teymour Sohrabi 2
Hamideh Noory 3
Reza Kerachian 4
Javad Bazr Afshan 5
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. 5- Professor, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
4 Professor, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
5 Associate Professor, Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
10.22034/iwrr.2025.522566.2881
Abstract
This research investigates the significance of accurate water sales programs and the role of executive and supervisory bodies in the success of water markets in achieving their objectives. With the aim of evaluating the effects of establishing a water market in the Hashtgerd plain, under conditions of non-conformity between water exchange programs and regional circumstances, coupled with weaknesses in program updates and inadequate management and supervision 20 years after its launch, a Multi Objective Decision Making model (MODM) (focusing on reducing groundwater extraction and increasing economic profit) was developed in GAMS software and solved using the Augmented epsilon-constraint (AEC) method. The results indicated that in the absence of sufficient supervision and management, the water market leads to the development of certain industrial and agricultural activities (greenhouses and orchards) with higher profitability and lower water consumption. This, in turn, disrupts the balance of production in the region. Despite a significant increase in the region’s economic profitability (from 53.8 billion to 3,777 billion annually), the annual water withdrawal from groundwater resources increases from 227 to 288 million cubic meters. This is because market participants, motivated by greater profit, are disinclined to reduce their water usage. This study emphasizes the critical importance of active supervision and management in water markets. Failure to update water sales programs in line with upstream policies and the absence of necessary restrictions can lead to irreparable damage to water resources and exacerbate social conflicts. To ensure the success of the water market and the sustainability of water resources, recommendations are proposed, including the development of regional planning models, modernization of control equipment, continuous monitoring of market impacts, and the revision of regulations pertaining to existing villa-orchards in the region.
Keywords
Water Resources Management, Water Market, Water Exchange Rules, Hashtgerd Plain, Dual-Objective Optimization Model, Augmented Epsilon Constraint Method

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 11 May 2025
  • Revise Date 11 July 2025
  • Accept Date 30 August 2025