Systematization of variables to evaluate water benefits of green infrastructure through volumetric water accounting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37636/recit.v9n3e452Keywords:
Water systems management, Green infrastructure, Volumetric water accountingAbstract
The increasing incorporation of green infrastructure in urban contexts demands tools to measure the water benefits these solutions generate. However, existing water accounting methodologies employ diverse sets of variables, hindering their standardization and practical application in projects. This study aims to analyze volumetric water accounting methodologies to identify and systematize the variables involved in evaluating water benefits related to green infrastructure, using a comparative analysis matrix. This was achieved through a systematic literature review and the analysis of nine methodological frameworks on water accounting. Three methodologies published between 2019 and 2025 by the World Resources Institute (WRI) were selected to identify and compare the indicators used in evaluating water benefits in urban contexts. These methodologies were chosen based on their academic relevance, their application in integrated water management, and their recent development. In this regard, the analysis was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 method, considering Volumetric Water Benefits Accounting (VWBA), Volumetric Water Benefits Accounting 2.0 (VWBA 2.0), and the Water Quality Benefits Accounting Guide (WQBA). The results revealed that the VWBA and VWBA 2.0 methodologies share fundamental variables such as mean annual precipitation, catchment area, runoff coefficient, and captured volume, forming the basis for quantifying volumetric benefits. Furthermore, it was determined that the main methodological difference lies in the incorporation of water quality variables by the WQBA methodology, which broadens its scope but increases its information requirements. In this context, a methodological and conceptual framework of variables oriented toward urban flood control is proposed, contributing to more comprehensive, comparable, and replicable assessments in future green infrastructure projects.
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