Investigation of a SWAT Model for Environmental Health Management Based on the Water Quality Parameters of a Stream System in Central Anatolia (Türkiye)

Abstract

Water is one of the most critical factors affecting environmental health. Therefore, it is essential to be able to predict water behavior in nature and prevent water pollution to avoid environmental health problems. In order to predict the behavior of water, the hydrological cycle needs to be evaluated at the basin level. To this aim, hydrological models can be used to obtain mathematical representations of hydrological processes. These models allow the anticipation and monitoring of issues regarding water quality, pollution, sediment transport, and proliferation of oil, and petroleum derivatives, among others, which can affect environmental health. In this study, a 2D surface water model was created using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) to simulate the lotic ecosystem and present water quality in the Tatlıçay Basin and to propose solutions for improving environmental health in the Cankiri provincial center in Türkiye. The accuracy of the input data and the validity of the model were tested with calibration and validation studies by using monthly or trimonthly observation data obtained from the flow observation and water quality stations of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works from 2016 to 2020. The aim was to create a model able to provide fast, accurate, and practical solutions in the face of water-related and environmental issues. The calibration and validation of this model were successfully carried out with very few observation data. Since surface water models are dynamic, long-term daily or monthly flow and water quality measurements should increase the accuracy of their predictions. Additionally, in the presence of pollution sources that may affect environmental health, monitoring and analyses of their possible effects should be carried out. As one of the few studies from the Middle East describing a hydrological model, this research makes a significant contribution to the literature on environmental health.