Hydroresources

Hydroresources is a term used to describe the set of water resources available for human use and for ecological services provided by Earth's hydrological systems. It includes surface water in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs; groundwater stored in aquifers; seasonal storage in snow and ice; and the soil moisture and atmospheric moisture that feed local hydrology. Together, hydroresources support drinking water, irrigation, industrial processes, energy production, transportation, recreation, and the health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

In energy systems, hydroresources often provide hydropower, which converts the potential and kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity. The availability of hydroresources varies by climate, season, and watershed characteristics, influencing timing and magnitude of supply.

Management of hydroresources involves measuring and modeling water availability, monitoring water quality, and allocating use through rights, prices, and policies. Tools include hydrological models, watershed or basin planning, groundwater management, and transboundary arrangements when rivers cross borders. Climate variability and change affect precipitation, snowpack, evapotranspiration, and hence the security of hydroresources, increasing risks of droughts and floods.

Sustainability challenges include overuse, pollution, sedimentation, loss of ecosystem services, and competing demands from agriculture, industry, and municipalities. Integrated water resources management seeks to balance supply, ecological health, economic development, and social equity. Data collection and monitoring networks—stream gauges, groundwater wells, and water-quality sensors—support planning, forecasting, and risk management.

See also: water resources, hydrology, hydropower, watershed management.