Application of Weap Model for Managing Water Resources in Iraq: A Review

Abstract

Abstract Due to the construction of dams in upstream countries and the usage of surface irrigation systems, Iraq has been experiencing a water shortage. Due to population increase and the expansion of the industrial and agricultural sectors, the country is having difficulty keeping up with the rising demand for water. Many previous studies carried out to optimize the water resources management in Iraq over the two decades using Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) modeling considering various aspects and different water resources throughout Iraq provinces. This study aims to find out if the WEAP modeling is reliable to optimize water resources management, fourteen previous studies were reviewed to figure out the fields they focused on, the study limitations, and the obtained results. It was found that the WEAP model is reliable for assessing, planning, and optimization of water resources management.