Assessment of Water Security using water footprint concept in Northern Lake Eerie Basin,Canada

Session: Poster session

Baljeet Kaur, University of Guelph, [email protected]
Prasad Daggupati Daggupati, University of Guelph, [email protected]
Ramesh Rudra, University of Guelph, [email protected]
Nabil Allataifeh, University of Guelph, [email protected]
Jun Hou, University of Guelph, [email protected]
Fahimeh Jafarianlari, University of Guelph, [email protected]
Harshpinder Singh Brar, University of Guelph, [email protected]

Abstract

The Northern Lake Eerie basin (NLEB) is the shallowest, most productive and southern-most river basin in Ontario, housing one-third of the total population of the Great Lakes basin. Due to weather variability, increasing water demand, deteriorating water quality and human development in NLEB, the stress over freshwater resources has increased, making it necessary to quantify the available water resources. To study the spatial-temporal dynamics of water security, the NLEB will be simulated using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). The model will be calibrated and validated at multiple sites using SUFI-2 algorithm within SWAT-CUP. The calibrated model will be utilized to analyse blue water (water flowing or stored on the surface and deep aquifers) and green water (soil moisture and evapotranspiration) availability, based on drainage areas. Factors like human water demand and Environmental flow requirement will be used to determine water security in terms of water scarcity. In this poster, various results such as calibration and validation statistics and temporal time series graphs at various sites, spatial-temporal patterns of total blue water, green water and water scarcity will be presented. This study will address water security issues in NLEB by quantifying the available water resources and identifying hot spot regions which need targeted action.

1. Keyword
Lake Erie

4. Additional Keyword
Water security

5. Additional Keyword
Blue-green water

6. Additional Keyword
SWAT