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Impact of Urbanization on Water Quantity and Quality: The Need for an Integrative Watershed Modeling Approach
Citation:
MOHAMOUD, Y. M. Impact of Urbanization on Water Quantity and Quality: The Need for an Integrative Watershed Modeling Approach. WATER RESOURCES IMPACT. American Water Resources Association, Middleburg, VA, 10(4):27-29, (2008).
Impact/Purpose:
The main focus of this research is to develop tools and modeling approaches that specifically address the nonpoint source pollution problem.
Description:
Economic development through natural resource extraction is the primary driver of land use change. Land use change generally occurs as a result of urban development (residential, commercial, and industrial), agriculture (pasture and crop production), forestry (wood for construction and paper), transportation (roads and railways), mining, and water resources development (multi-purpose dams and reservoirs). Resource extraction is crucial to economic growth but without sustainable natural resources management strategies in place these economic gains may cause serious environmental consequences. Our focus here is on urbanization and its effects on water quantity and quality. The impacts of urbanization are multi-faceted and not limited to water quantity and water quality alterations, but also the consequences of these alterations on the health of aquatic ecosystems and reliability of municipal water supply systems.