Evaluation of Benefit-Cost Analysis of South Khorasan Artificial Recharge Dams Based on Water Demand Scenarios

Currently, South Khorasan province is facing a crisis of water resources and consumption. So that many of the plains of the province have been banned after continuous decline, and as a result, consequences such as the subsidence of the plains and the reduction of the useful volume of aquifers have occurred. To implement the process of artificial recharge, estimating the benefit-cost of the plans are very important and must be done with sufficient accuracy. In this research, the measurement of benefit-cost, and the discount rate were compiled in a systematic way, and the value of each artificial recharge option was determined using the basis of measurement, and after comparing with other options, the option with the lowest price has been selected. Among the three scenarios: 1) artificial recharge with the aim of increasing the groundwater level; 2) Harvesting water from recharge and using it in the agricultural sector and 3) Using a part of recharged water in different consumption sectors and increasing the level of groundwater. The results of the investigations showed that according to the Shapley value, the third scenario (with a value of 567.92) has a higher priority than the other scenarios, therefore, the implementation of artificial recharge plans with the sole aim of increasing the groundwater level will not be suitable. It should be noted that not paying attention to the economic aspect of such plans will cause them to be ineffective in the long run due to the lack of compensation for implementation and operation costs.