Use of water resources in the Barada basin

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the current problems of water use for the Barada River basin (Syria) based on the analysis of the hydrological characteristics of natural water resources and making forecasts of the use of water resources for the future. To achieve this goal, methods are used to construct a theoretical supply curve based on average long-term data on the flow of the Barada River in Syria, as well as a predictive method based on retrospective data and a balance method for assessing the water management situation and the limiting period for the water content of the river during the year. The assessment of water use conditions and water availability periods was carried out for years of 90% availability of river flow for agriculture based on irrigation and for years of 75% availability of river flow for other industrial water users. The assessment of water resources and the analysis of the peculiarities of the use of the waters of the Barada River, taking into account local conditions, were carried out. Diffuse flows from territories are taken into account in water management balances. The pollution of river runoff by water quality class was also assessed. Recommendations are given for restoring the water quality in the river for different years in terms of water content. The recommendations take into account the use of sorbent meliorants for cleaning diffuse and drainage runoff with an efficiency of up to 90%.