Water is a vital resource for the survival of all living beings, and Iran is among the countries facing a water scarcity crisis. The Zayandeh-Rud Basin, one of the most important rivers in Iran’s central plateau, has experienced increasing water shortages over time. This study examines water scarcity indices such as Falkenmark, Water Resource Vulnerability, Water Poverty, Green-Blue Water Scarcity, and Water Stress across the counties of Isfahan, Mobarakeh, Shahreza, Shahin Shahr and Meymeh, Lenjan, Najafabad, and Fereidan between 2002 and 2016. The findings indicate that the Falkenmark index shows relatively favorable conditions since it considers only water availability and population. In contrast, the Water Resource Vulnerability index and the International Water Management Institute index reveal worsening water conditions over time. The Water Poverty Index, which eva‎luates factors like resources, access, capacity, consumption, and the environment, demonstrated poor water conditions throughout the entire period. The Green-Blue Water Scarcity index revealed that areas initially had no water shortage but gradually transitioned to scarcity over time. Meanwhile, the Water Stress index showed more favorable conditions compared to the Water Resource Vulnerability index.Finally, using all indices and k-means clustering, the counties were classified into three categories: semi-critical, critical, and highly critical. Most counties consistently fell into the critical category. Additionally, the study analyzed wet and dry periods using 3- and 5-year moving averages, showing that the 3-year period provided better clarity and that the number of counties affected by drought increased over time.

سعيد اسلاميان , عليرضا گوهري

محمد جواد زارعيان

جهانگير عابدي كوپائي , سعيد سلطاني كوپائي