Integrated Water Balance and Water Stress Index–Based Sustainability Assessment of a Semi-Arid Island Ecosystem

Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 01 | Page : 26 41
    By

    Sagar Vinodray Nimavat,

  • Mahendrasinh Shivraj Gadhavi,

  1. Research Scholar, Civil Engineering, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India

Abstract

Freshwater scarcity is an increasingly critical challenge in semi-arid island environments due to limited natural water availability, high dependence on seasonal rainfall, growing population pressure, and expanding agricultural activities. Island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to water stress because they often lack perennial surface water sources and rely heavily on groundwater recharge during short and highly variable monsoon periods. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of water demand, post-monsoon water availability, and water stress for Khadir Island, India, using a Water Stress Index (WSI)–based sustainability framework. Sector-wise water demand for domestic, livestock, and agricultural uses was estimated using population statistics, livestock census data, and crop water requirement analysis. Post-monsoon water availability was evaluated based on rainfall records, groundwater recharge estimates, and storage characteristics. Future water availability for the period 2022–2025 was projected using rainfall-based scenarios representing wet, normal, and dry conditions. The Water Stress Index was computed as the ratio of total water demand to available water to assess sustainability and vulnerability. Results indicate that total annual water demand increased from 1,207.5 million litres per year (MLY) in 2011 to a projected 1,369.6 MLY by 2025, primarily driven by population growth and agricultural water use. Agriculture accounted for more than 75% of total water demand. Post-monsoon water availability exhibited strong interannual variability, ranging from approximately 1,350 MLY during dry years to over 2,300 MLY during wet years. WSI values ranged between 0.62 and 1.00, indicating moderate to high water stress. The study demonstrates that a WSI-based approach provides a practical, multidisciplinary, and policy-relevant tool for sustainable water planning in semi-arid island regions.

Keywords: Water balance, water stress index, island sustainability, agricultural water demand, groundwater recharge, climate variability, water policy

[This article belongs to Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research ]

How to cite this article:
Sagar Vinodray Nimavat, Mahendrasinh Shivraj Gadhavi. Integrated Water Balance and Water Stress Index–Based Sustainability Assessment of a Semi-Arid Island Ecosystem. Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research. 2026; 13(01):26-41.
How to cite this URL:
Sagar Vinodray Nimavat, Mahendrasinh Shivraj Gadhavi. Integrated Water Balance and Water Stress Index–Based Sustainability Assessment of a Semi-Arid Island Ecosystem. Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research. 2026; 13(01):26-41. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jowppr/article=2026/view=238470


References

  1. Alcamo J, Flörke M, Märker M. Future long-term changes in global water resources driven by socio-economic and climatic changes. Hydrol Sci J. 2007;52(2):247–275.
  2. Allen RG, Pereira LS, Raes D, Smith M. Crop evapotranspiration: Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56. Rome: FAO; 1998.
  3. Bhave AG, Conway D, Dessai S. Water resource planning under uncertainty: A review. Water Secur. 2022;15:100110.
  4. Cashman A. Water security and services in small island developing states. Int J Water Resour Dev. 2014;30(1):183–194.
  5. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Groundwater resource estimation methodology. New Delhi: Government of India; 2017.
  6. Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO). Manual on water supply and treatment. New Delhi: Government of India; 2012.
  7. Custodio E. Coastal aquifers of Europe: An overview. Hydrogeol J. 2010;18(1):269–280.
  8. Doorenbos J, Kassam AH. Yield response to water. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 33. Rome: FAO; 1979.
  9. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Water scarcity and agriculture: Policy and planning approaches. Rome: FAO; 2023.
  10. Falkenmark M, Rockström J. The new blue and green water paradigm. J Water Resour Plan Manag. 2006;132(3):129–132.
  11. Fereres E, Soriano MA. Deficit irrigation for reducing agricultural water use. Agric Water Manag. 2022;265:107546.
  12. Gain AK, Giupponi C, Wada Y. Measuring global water security. Environ Res Lett. 2022;17(3):034015.
  13. Gleick PH. Global freshwater resources. Science. 2003;302(5650):1524–1528.
  14. Hoekstra AY, Mekonnen MM, Chapagain AK, Mathews RE, Richter BD. Global monthly water scarcity. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e32688.
  15. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2022.
  16. Mekonnen MM, Hoekstra AY. Global water stress and scarcity. Water Resour Res. 2022;58(6):e2021WR031671.
  17. Mukherjee A, Scanlon BR, Aureli A, Langan S. Groundwater sustainability and climate change. Nat Rev Earth Environ. 2023;4:178–194.
  18. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Water governance for resilience. Paris: OECD; 2022.
  19. Peden D, Tadesse G, Misra AK. Water and livestock for human development. Agric Water Manag. 2007;84(1–2):1–8.
  20. Taylor RG, Scanlon B, Döll P, et al. Groundwater and climate change. Nat Clim Chang. 2023;13:337–346.
  21. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). United Nations World Water Development Report 2023. Paris: UNESCO; 2023.
  22. Vörösmarty CJ, McIntyre PB, Gessner MO, et al. Global threats to human water security. Nature. 2010;467:555–561.
  23. White I, Falkland T. Management of freshwater lenses on small islands. Paris: UNESCO; 2010.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Issue 01
Received 13/02/2026
Accepted 18/02/2026
Published 28/02/2026
Publication Time 15 Days
53

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics