Toolkit for assessing water accounting in data-scarce river basins using global databases

Abstract

This study develops a toolkit for implementing the WA + framework, integrating observational data and global databases to enhance data collection for water accounting assessment. By addressing data gaps, updating processes, and coverage issues through automated systems, it compiles key variables like precipitation, evapotranspiration, and groundwater fluctuations, leveraging GLDAS (Global Land Data Assimilation System), GLEAM (Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model), and GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) datasets. The toolkit, named NWBWAS (National Web Based Water Accounting System), automates water accounting components' calculation, providing comprehensive reports and indicators. Using the Tashk-Bakhtegan watershed as a case study, NWBWAS demonstrated significant advancements, offering a robust, efficient solution for rapid, cost-effective initial water accounting assessments, marking a substantial improvement over previous approaches.