Quantification of the Hydrological Components to Estimate Water Balance of Lake Badovc, Kosovo

This paper aims to quantify the hydrological (Rainfalls, surface runoff, stream inflow, evaporations, water level fluctuation and abstraction) components of Lake Badovc watershed for the period 2013-2015. For the scope of water administration of the lake, it is important to understand which factors are affecting the unexpected lowering of water level in Lake Badovc. The main hydrological components are quantified based on the annual (501.6, 871.36 and 626.0mm) rainfalls measured during the observation (year 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively) period. The lowest (92.1 mm) runoff value was in 2013 which represents 18.3% of annual rainfalls, while the highest (250.1 mm) one was in 2015 representing 40.0% of annual rainfalls. Real evaporated rainfalls from catchment are almost equal for each monitored year. Contribution of groundwater discharge in the amount of water runoff for each monitored year is more than 50%. High (417.8mm) water infiltration rates were found in 2014 and they are considered to be caused by low soil moisture conditions and high amount of rainfall. Water loss from lake and low runoff rate from catchment basin are the main factors affecting the water level in Lake Badovc. An average annual deficit of 3,701,327 m3 was found in lake water balance calculations which was considered as water loss from the lake.