WEAP Software: A Tool for Integrated Water Resources Management

Abstract

The escalating global water scarcity crisis, coupled with significant challenges in managing freshwater resources, has led to the characterization of the current era as one of "wars over water resources." In various countries worldwide, particularly in developing nations, water-related issues encompass water shortages, pollution, the spread of epidemic diseases, habitat degradation, and species extinction. These problems further exacerbate food insecurity, poverty, and hunger. In arid and semi-arid regions, such as Iran, water shortages are particularly acute, underscoring the critical importance of comprehensive attention to all aspects of water resources. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) emerges as an effective approach to address these challenges. As a systematic process for monitoring and allocating water resources to meet social, economic, and environmental objectives in pursuit of sustainable development, IWRM compensates for deficiencies, enhances storage capacity, minimizes adverse impacts from fragmented resource use, and promotes efficient and optimal water management. Today, modeling techniques and advanced software tools greatly assist specialists in implementing IWRM more precisely and effectively. One such tool is the WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning System) software, developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). This paper emphasizes the necessity of robust water resources management while introducing the WEAP modeling platform. It highlights the software's features, capabilities, approach, performance, and structure to familiarize specialists and users with its potential. WEAP offers a broad spectrum of managerial approaches with a holistic and integrated perspective on large-scale water resources and systems, leading to its widespread adoption in research and operational projects across many countries.