Water quality management by hydro-institutional mapping approach

In recent years, the main problem is to provide sufficient amount of water in desired water quantity and quality under conditions of available water resources. The major reason is great increase in population and industrialization that cause an increase in the number and variety of water uses. Consequently, "Integrated Water Resources Management" (IWRM) approach has been developed to improve the existing conditions in terms of water quantity and quality by taking water users, polluters and managers into consideration. Because IWRM has a multi-disciplinary perspective, it is possible to evaluate every detail throughout the basin. In decision making for development and management for water resources, IWRM approach is currently emphasized for various purposes. Water quality, one of the limiting issues in IWRM, has gained great importance in more basins. Degrading water quality directly affects water allocation and leads to water scarcity. Gediz River Basin, with about millions of inhabitants, is currently one of the most highly polluted basins. In the presented study, the IWRM approach is applied to the case basin using the available data especially in terms of water quality. The presented study also emphasizes the widespread use of mathematical models in IWRM approach by the use of QUAL2E model in the case basin. Mathematical models are effective tools in management and decision-making stage so that it is possible to identify the natural conditions in mathematical terms. Because the available data on the case basin are limited and not updated, the results do not reflect the current status in terms of water quality. The stated IWRM approach with its major components and methodology can be a scientific basis for managers and decision-makers of a basin in case of updated and systematic data.