Title
Assessment of Present and Future Water Security under Anthropogenic and Climate Changes Using WEAP Model in the Vilcanota-Urubamba Catchment, Cusco, Perú
Date Issued
01 April 2023
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Abstract
Water is an essential resource for social and economic development. The availability of this resource is constantly threatened by the rapid increase in its demand. This research assesses current (2010–2016), short- (2017–2040), middle- (2041–2070), and long-term (2071–2099) levels of water security considering socio-economic and climate change scenarios using the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) in Vilcanota-Urubamba (VUB) catchment. The streamflow data of the Pisac hydrometric station were used to calibrate (1987–2006) and validate (2007–2016) the WEAP Model applied to the VUB region. The Nash Sutcliffe efficiency values were 0.60 and 0.84 for calibration and validation, respectively. Different scenarios were generated for socio-economic factors (population growth and increased irrigation efficiency) and the impact of climate change to evaluate their effect on the current water supply system. The results reveal that water availability is much higher than the current demand in the VUB for the period (2010–2016). For short-, middle- and long term, two scenarios were considered, “Scenario 1” (RCP 4.5) and “Scenario 2” (RCP 8.5). Climate change scenarios show that water availability will increase. However, this increase will not cover the future demands in all the sub-basins because water availability is not evenly distributed in all of the VUB. In both scenarios, an unmet demand was detected from 2050. For the period 2071–2099, an unmet demand of 477 hm3/year for “Scenario 1” and 446 hm3/year for “Scenario 2” were estimated. Because population and agricultural demands are the highest, the effects of reducing the growth rate and improving the irrigation structure were simulated. Therefore, two more scenarios were generated “Scenario 3” (RCP 4.5 with management) and “Scenario 4” (RCP 8.5 with management). This socio-economic management proved to be effective in reducing the unmet demand up to 50% in all sub-basins for the period 2071–2099.
Volume
15
Issue
7
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Investigación climática Oceanografía, Hidrología, Recursos hídricos Geografía física
Publication version
Version of Record
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85152860524
Source
Water (Switzerland)
ISSN of the container
2073-4441
Sponsor(s)
This research was conducted under the RAHU project “Water security and climate change adaptation in Peruvian glacier-fed river basins” or “seguRidad hídrica y Adaptación al cambio climático en cuencas Hídricas perUanas alimentadas por glaciares” (RAHU). The authors also thank CONCYTEC and Newton Fund for funding, as well as the RAHU project partners (Contract N_ 005-2019-PROCIENCIA. Peru) and PEGASUS project partners (Contract N_ 009-2019-PROCIENCIA. Peru) for providing information and expertise. We also thank the SEI (Stockholm Environmental Institute) for licensing the software to A.G. This study was funded by the National Council for Science, Technology, and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC) of Peru and the Newton Fund of England. N_ 005-2019-PROCIENCIA. Peru.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú