Comprobación de hipótesis específicas

scenario (i) and historic climate conditions (a)

The integrated hydrologic and socio-economic model defines water as the main factor of the regional social and economic development. However, due to projected high-usage rates, increased demand, and declining supplies in some areas of the basin caused by changing climate conditions, water may become the limiting factor to future growth and expansion. In this section, the results obtained for the combination of the baseline socio- economic (i) and historic climate conditions (a) in the UTRB are shown.

Figures 35 – 39 present the spatial manifestation of urbanization and land use change (deforestation and reforestation) processes in five-year time steps (1, 61, 121, 181, and 241). In these figures, grey patches represent the urbanized areas as on January 1st, 2000, while white patches (cells) represent newly urbanized areas in the basin during the course of simulation. Green patches represent forested lands, and these maps show further reforestation promoted by local conservation authorities. Furthermore, these figures show all active water users (industrial, agricultural, commercial and municipal water supply) in the respective time steps. Figure 40 presents the actual rates of land-use change in km2, showing the steady decline of agricultural lands and increase of residential and forest land use. Projected economic development in the region is expected to create more jobs and attract more people to the region, and, therefore, Figure 41 illustrates the steady dynamics of London’s population growth in the twenty-year period. On the other hand, Figure 42 shows the rate of population density change in the City of London. As

demographic growth intensifies, so do the rates of urbanization and development. As a result, areas around London are under development, and agricultural land is being converted to residential and economic uses. Also, on the level of the whole basin, areas closest to the existing urban centers and other infrastructural features (such as roads, highways, etc.) are experiencing similar development, Figures 35 – 39.

Figure 43 shows all categories of active water users in each time step according the PTTWs database. The rates of water consumption and their periods of validity are extracted from the PTTW database and remain unmodified during the course of simulation. As can be expected, the number of effective licenses slowly declines after 2014, at the time step 168, as the result of unchanged license expiration dates. Rates of non-permitted domestic and agricultural use are also imported from the database, and their consumption multiplier coefficients are equal to one. Based on the individual demand, Figure 44 presents the seasonal variation of water demand for active industrial, agricultural and commercial water users. The next two figures, Figures 45 and 46 show economic activities per sector (industrial and agricultural) in terms of Canadian dollars based on the quantities of used water, as per already-described economic sub-models. Economic decline in industrial sector observed in Figure 45 is a result of decreased water demand recorder in the permit to take water database. Figure 47 shows economic revenue in dollars of the currently cultivated areas in the basin, taking account the current crop patterns, yields, and crop prices. Since the urbanization and reforestation processes are occurring on account of agricultural land, this figure shows a steady decline in economic revenues.

Figure 48(a) shows the obtained River Thames median monthly flow rates at Byron station for historic climate conditions. The median flow rate for the period of simulation is 25.46m3/s, while the average flow is 30.02m3/s. Figure 49(a) presents the median monthly flow rates at Ingersoll. The median flow rate for the period of simulation is 9.33m3/s, while the average flow is 11.17m3/s. Finally, Figure 50 (a) shows the same results at St.Marys where the median flow rate is 3.30m3/s, and the average is 4.01m3/s. The detailed comparison between different climate scenarios (historic, wet and dry) for all three stations is given in Chapter 5.8. In addition to surface flows, one of the most

important impacts of land-use change and urbanization on hydrologic regime is alteration of groundwater recharge rates. As a result of urbanization, less water is infiltrated to the groundwater aquifers that many municipalities use for their drinking water supply. At the same time, industry and agriculture use the groundwater for manufacturing and food production. It is expected that quantities of available groundwater will decline over time and slow down future economic and social growth. This model represents the ground- water recharge as the volume of precipitation that infiltrates the ground water aquifers in any given time step. Figures 51(a), 52(a) and 53(a) show the seasonal variations of ground water recharge rates and total water demand for three counties (Middlesex, Oxford and Perth) in the Upper Thames River basin for historic climate scenario. It must be noted that since this model does not include a component that calculates the impacts of groundwater and surface water withdrawals typically required to assess the state of local aquifers, ground water recharge rates are compared to the water demand. It is preferred that the water demand remains smaller than the recharge rates, to avoid additional water withdrawals and extraction of reserves from groundwater aquifers. At this spatial scale, results do not show any significant disproportion between natural recharge and demand rates for this climate scenario. This suggests that groundwater aquifers in these three counties are not in danger of overexploitation under the projected socio-economic and climate conditions. However, the situation drastically changes at the lower spatial scales (the sub-basin level). Based on the state of local socio-economic activity in each sub- basin, three sub-basins are chosen for detailed analysis – Middle Thames (sub-basin ID 14 selected via chooser), North Mitchell (sub-basin ID 20 selected via chooser), and River Bend (sub-basin ID 27 selected via chooser).

According to the PTTW database and accounted non-serviced water demand, Middle Thames and North Mitchell sub-basins contain a small number of water permits as a result of relatively insignificant local socio-economic activity. Expectedly, both sub- basins have enough resources to manage their groundwater aquifers sustainably. For both basins, Figure 54(a) and Figure 56(a) compare the monthly rates of groundwater recharge to monthly total water demand for described socio-economic conditions for historic climate scenario. Cumulative water balance accounted for both sub-basins, presented in Figures 55(a) and 57(a), does not show any threat of overutilization. The observed trends

suggest that, in the case of existing climate conditions, the two sub-basins should be able to support future economic growth, at least in terms of renewable water resources.

On the other hand, the situation is considerably different in the Southwestern parts of the Upper Thames River basin. As a result of strong local socio-economic activity, mainly intensive agricultural practices, River Bend sub-basin has issued a significant number of water permits. Figure 58(a) shows monthly variation in groundwater demand and groundwater recharge rates, and reveals significant pressure on local water resources even in current climate conditions. Long-term cumulative water balance, presented in Figure 59(a), reveals that the local groundwater recharge rates are not sufficient to sustainably replenish groundwater aquifers due to extensive water withdrawals. This means that, in the future, with current climate conditions, local aquifers will be exposed to a severe pressure. However, this conclusion should be further analyzed, as the model does not account for interactions between local aquifers and large water bodies, such as the neighboring Great Lakes.