A Rapid Method to Estimate the Different Components of the Water Balance in Mediterranean Watersheds

The sustainable management of water resources, whether surface or underground, requires the identification flows involved and possibility achieving balance resource. These require knowledge main flow components with a sufficient level accuracy. Hydrological simulation models are valuable tools for studying at watershed scale but rely on data that rarely available; therefore, they implementation field investigations. There is thus need simple practical functioning identifying different flows. In this paper, method uses only weather data, volumes abstraction by pumping diversion, measured outlet proposed. use cumulative multi-year curves rainfall provides an assessment unknown can take place in watershed, as well order respective magnitudes fast slow Its application to 20 French Mediterranean watersheds shows it possible properly estimate magnitude losses gains linked karst irrigation input. External inflows outflows represent up 150% outlet. annual estimated using indeed very close (R2 = 93%) those provided existing knowledge. proposed constitute first approach quantification help guide investigations more sophisticated approaches such hydrological modelling.