Slide 5
Slide 5 text
IMPETUS: Modeling Water Demand in Droughts
The problem: current practice
5
Sources: Water UK (2016) Water resources long term planning framework (2015-2065), Essex &
Suffolk Water, Daily Mail
Water Resources Long Term Planning Framework
Water UK
Figure 3-4 Illustration of typical sequence of drought interventions (taken from the Affinity Water
Drought Plan)
Example diagram of a drought trigger-response system. The purple and blue lines represent theoretical
monitored groundwater levels during a two or three year event respectively. The green, yellow, orange and
red bands represent ‘thresholds’ that are based on an analysis of historic records, and are used to help
inform the company when it is making decisions on the level of demand restrictions and supply side
interventions to take.
The y-axis in this indicative diagram, presents the groundwater level (in metres above ordnance datum,
mAOD).
Severity Levels
Drought & Severe
Drought:
hosepipe bans for
households
Severe Drought:
- Increased abstraction for
Public Water Supply outside
that permitted by an
abstraction license
- Restrict abstraction for
agriculture
- Rota-cuts and
standpipes
MAYBE ONCE IN 200 YRS
Most Companies plan
based on the worst
drought over 100 yrs
of records. But.. the
climate is changing
and the population
growing!