Review of Integrated Assessment of Climate-Induced Water Quality Deterioration in River Basins

Abstract

River basins worldwide are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the combined effects of climate change and anthropogenic stressors, resulting in deteriorating water quality that threatens the integrity of ecosystems and human well-being. Integrated assessment approaches have emerged as essential tools to evaluate the multifactorial effects of climate-induced changes on freshwater systems.  This review critically synthesizes insights from various studies to explore the methodologies, advantages, limitations, and findings of integrated assessments focusing on climate-induced water quality deterioration in river basins. The studies reviewed encompass diverse global basins and employ a range of tools such as coupled hydrological and water quality models (e.g., SWAT, QUAL2K), remote sensing, GIS, stakeholder mapping, and multi-scenario simulations. Key performance indicators include nutrient loading, sediment transport, temperature shifts, and pollutant concentrations. Findings indicate a consistent trend of water quality degradation driven by altered hydrological cycles, increased runoff, and land use changes. Integrated models effectively capture spatial and temporal variability, offering enhanced decision-support capabilities. However, limitations such as data scarcity, model complexity, uncertainty in climate projections, and lack of standardized assessment frameworks constrain their practical application.  Integrated assessment approaches demonstrate strong potential for informing adaptive water resource management under climate change scenarios. The inclusion of stakeholder perspectives and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies enhances model relevance and policy uptake. Future efforts should prioritize data harmonization, simplification of modeling tools, and inter-sectoral collaboration to enable robust, scalable, and policy-relevant assessments.