كيانا چپريان

The Maadi system of Isfahan—a network of man-made water canals—faces severe drought in the contemporary period. This drought has led to multiple challenges, such as reduced water flow and quality, declining groundwater recharge, land subsidence, threats to dependent plant and animal life, and even risks to cultural heritage. Among the city's areas, District 1 is most affected due to its larger share of Maadi canals, including strategic ones like Niasarm. To address this, a water-based resilience approach is proposed. This is a new method in water resource management that combines ecological, infrastructural, and social strategies to help systems maintain functionality, absorb environmental stress, and recover during and after crises. This study aims to provide an effective model for making the Maadi network in District1 resilient to future droughts. First, a review of literature was conducted to identify and rank water-based resilience indicators in response to drought. Then, four global case studies with similar conditions were eva‎luated based on these indicators. Their optimal strategies were extracted, highlighting the importance of using unconventional water sources such as greywater and rainwater. Next, the study area was analyzed, along with its challenges in using these water sources. A model focusing on physical and infrastructural aspects was then developed to improve the resilience of the Maadi network. Practical solutions include sourcing water from unconventional supplies, improving irrigation efficiency, and using drought-resistant plant species. The Maadi network was classified based on spatial and hydrological goals. Then, using resilience indicators, design options were ranked. A 425-meter segment of the Niasarm Maadi was selected for detailed design. Based on the area's potentials, opportunities, constraints, and stressors, water channel resilience principles were proposed specifically for this segment. The results show that, unlike traditional supply-based approaches, water-based resilience emphasizes demand control and sustainable water management. It focuses more on system adaptability than risk mitigation. Given Isfahan’s low annual rainfall, the use of light greywater (e.g., from sinks and showers)—which has lower microbial load and simpler treatment requirements—is a cost-effective solution to improve the system's adaptability. If treated within residential zones, approximately 19491 cubic meters of recycled water can be used annually for green spaces, Maadi bed restoration, local agriculture, and groundwater recharge. Based on annual rainfall levels, local runoff collection methods—such as permeable pavements, infiltration zones, rain gardens, bioswales, and small catchment areas—were also emphasized. The use of drought-resistant plant species and the installation of soil cells to support aging tree roots are additional strategies proposed to enhance the Maadi network’s resilience under water crisis conditions.

خشكسالي , بحران آب , شهر اصفهان , مادي , تاب آوري مبتني بر آب

drought , water crisis , Isfahan city , Maadi , water resiliency

kiana chaparyan

seyed-majid mofidi-shemirani