WEAP Software: A Tool for Integrated Water Resources Management

Authors

  • Aydin matin * Department of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, To.C., Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran.
  • Leila ooshaksaraie Department of Environment, La.C., Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.
  • Fatemeh shariati Department of Environment, La.C., Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.48313/bic.vi.44

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 Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) 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.

Keywords:

Integrated management, Water resources, Systematic approach, Water evaluation and planning system software

References

  1. [1] Bierkens, M. F. P., van Beek, L. P. H. R., & Wanders, N. (2024). Gisser-Sánchez revisited: A model of optimal groundwater withdrawal under irrigation including surface-groundwater interaction. Journal of hydrology, 635, 131145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131145

  2. [2] Asghar, A., Iqbal, J., Amin, A., & Ribbe, L. (2019). Integrated hydrological modeling for assessment of water demand and supply under socio-economic and IPCC climate change scenarios using WEAP in Central Indus Basin. Journal of water supply: Research and technology aqua, 68(2), 136–148. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2019.106

  3. [3] Wang, Y., Wang, W., Jia, R., Li, M., Liu, B., Zhang, K., … ., & Jia, J. (2019). Research on treating algae-polluted reservoir water by the process of pre-oxidation/dissolved air flotation/carbon sand filter. Water supply, 19(3), 823–830. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2018.128

  4. [4] Herbertson, P. W., & Tate, E. L. (2001). Tools for water use and demand management in South Africa. https://B2n.ir/ux4876

  5. [5] Alfarra, A. (2004). Modelling water resource management in Lake Naivasha [Thesis]. https://ftp.itc.nl/pub/naivasha/ITC/Alfarra2004.pdf

  6. [6] Casado, A. L., & López, N. C. (2025). Comparison of synthetic unit hydrograph methods for flood assessment in a dryland, poorly gauged basin (Napostá Grande, Argentina). AIMS geosciences , 11(1), 27-46. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2025003

  7. [7] Zegait, R., Bouznad, I. E., Remini, B., Bengusmia, D., Ajia, F., Guastaldi, E., … ., & Petrone, D. (2024). Comprehensive model for sustainable water resource management in Southern Algeria: Integrating remote sensing and WEAP model. Modeling earth systems and environment, 10(1), 1027–1042. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-023-01826-y

  8. [8] Yates, D., Sieber, J., Purkey, D., & Huber-Lee, A. (2005). WEAP21—A demand-, priority-, and preference-driven water planning model: Part 1: Model characteristics. Water international, 30(4), 487–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060508691893

  9. [9] Htoo, T. Z., Htwe, Y. Y., & Kyi, C. C. T. (2024). Assessment on water resource management for sedawgyi dam: A WEAP analysis approach. The indonesian journal of computer science, 13(5), 7067-7083. https://doi.org/10.33022/ijcs.v13i5.4272

  10. [10] Raskin, P., Hansen, E., Zhu, Z., & Stavisky, D. (1992). Simulation of water supply and demand in the Aral Sea region. Water international, 17(2), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508069208686127

  11. [11] Sieber, J. (2008). Guideline of WEAP software. August 2008 (Water evaluation and planiing system),SEI (Stockholm Environment Institute). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377724910

  12. [12] Le Page, M., Fakir, Y., & Aouissi, J. (2020). Modeling for integrated water resources management in the Mediterranean region. In Water resources in the Mediterranean region (pp. 157-190). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818086-0.00007-8

  13. [13] Hadri, A., Saidi, M. E. M., El Khalki, E. M., Aachrine, B., Saouabe, T., & Elmaki, A. A. (2022). Integrated water management under climate change through the application of the WEAP model in a Mediterranean arid region. Journal of water and climate change, 13(6), 2414–2442. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2022.039

  14. [14] Kandera, M., Výleta, R., Liová, A., Danáčová, Z., & Lovasová, L. (2021). Testing of water evaluation and planning (WEAP) model for water resources management in the hron river basin. Acta hydrologica slovaca, 22(1), 30–39. https://doi.org/10.31577/ahs-2021-0022.01.0004

  15. [15] Myat, K., & Aye, N. (2017). Proposal of water allocation plans for Mandalay area in Myanmar. American Academy of science research journal f engineering,o technology, and sciences, 31(1), 24–39. https://asrjetsjournal.org/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/2893

  16. [16] Maßmann, J., Wolfer, J., Huber, M., Schelkes, K., Hennings, V., Droubi, A., & Al-Sibai, M. (2012). WEAP-MODFLOW as a decision support system (DSS) for integrated water resources management: Design of the coupled model and results from a pilot study in Syria. In Groundwater quality sustainability (pp. 161-173). CRC Press / Taylor & Francis Group. https://www.scribd.com/document/836708111/226-iah2010-massmann

  17. [17] Hamdi, A. A., Abdulhameed, I. M., & Mawlood, I. A. (2023). Application of WEAP model for managing water resources in Iraq: A review. IOP conference series: Earth and environmental science (pp. 012032). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1222/1/012032

  18. [18] Gohil, K. B., & Jain, R. (2023). Extensive review of water resources management using WEAP and its integrated models. Journal of indian water works association, 55(2), 119–124. https://www.iwwa.info/assets/journal/final/127121691486135.pdf#page=39

  19. [19] Neeti, K., Singh, R., Ahmad, S., & Sakshi Kumar, A. (2024). Challenges and opportunities in integrated water resources management. In Integrated management of water resources in India: A computational approach: Optimizing for sustainability and planning (pp. 345-359). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62079-9_19

  20. [20] Kumar, P., Johnson, B. A., Dasgupta, R., Avtar, R., Chakraborty, S., Kawai, M., & Magcale-Macandog, D. B. (2020). Participatory approach for more robust water resource management: Case study of the Santa Rosa sub-watershed of the Philippines. Water, 12(4), 1172. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041172

  21. [21] Giupponi, C., & Sgobbi, A. (2013). Decision support systems for water resources management in developing countries: Learning from experiences in Africa. Water, 5(2), 798–818. https://doi.org/10.3390/w5020798

  22. [22] Torabi, A., Yosefvand, F., Shabanlou, S., Rajabi, A., & Yaghoubi, B. (2024). Optimization of integrated operation of surface and groundwater resources using multi-objective grey wolf optimizer (MOGWO) algorithm. Water resources management, 38(6), 2079–2099. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-024-03744-9

  23. [23] Voinov, A. A. (2008). Systems science and modeling for ecological economics. Academic Press. https://B2n.ir/tq7003

Published

2025-09-13

How to Cite

matin, A. ., ooshaksaraie, L. ., & shariati, F. . (2025). WEAP Software: A Tool for Integrated Water Resources Management. Biocompounds, 2(3), 178-185. https://doi.org/10.48313/bic.vi.44