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Assessment of the scale and variability of
water resources is basic to many development projects and environmental studies. The scope
of possible inputs varies from national and regional studies to site specific audit, and
over a range of time scales. In some developing countries, scarcity of reliable data
presents serious problems of resource assessment, which requires careful consideration of
the uncertainties inherent in the estimates.
Water Resource Associates have experience of many of the physical and
climatic regions of the world, and of working within many different frameworks from
primary resources estimation to identifying the impact of land-use and agricultural change
on the available water resource.
Many procedures including rainfall analysis, rainfall-runoff modelling
and direct measures of river flow variation are relevant. Sometimes it is necessary to
naturalise flow sequences to allow for developments that have taken place during the
historical period for which records are available.
WRA has the relevant experience and software to handle all the issues
involved in water resource assessment, and to help assess the feasibility of projects
proposed for development of the water resource.
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Experience as a company and
directors United Kingdon
Under contract to Severn-Trent Water plc we carried an
analysis of their deployable yield. This was a
statutory requirement. Severn-Trent Water is one of the largest water undertakings in the
UK with over 8 million consumers.
SNIFFER (Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for
Environmental Research)
The Company, together with Oxford Scientific Software, has in-house
experience of software development in two key areas – catchment rainfall-runoff
models and water resource system simulation. The HYSIM
model would need some adaptation to accommodate recent scientific thinking and the RESSIM model applied in England would be developed
further, with powerful new facilities enabling users to mould specific implementations,
and renamed AQUATOR. These modification are in course of being completed.
Botswana
Review of proposals for development of the resources of
the Okavango delta. An environmentally more acceptable alternative was proposed for which
the Client has commissioned a detailed design.
Cambodia
Investigation of the water resource base for
irrigation and rural infrastructure development in Takeo and Kompong Speu provinces.
China
Evaluation of the water resource available to
the North Hainan Water Resources Development Project. This included the naturalisation of
flow series and an investigation of the potential for inter-basin transfers through system
simulation modelling.
India
Strengthening the capability of the Institute
for Water Studies in Madras in resource assessment, systems analysis and river basin
modelling.
Malawi
Estimating the water resource available in a
number of rivers in northern Malawi to support development of run of river hydropower
projects. This involved an assessment of the natural storage of the Nyika Plateau, which
strongly influenced the dry-season flows.
UK
Review of water resources of the River Rother
(Sussex). This required identification of all surface and groundwater issues, review of
data, data infilling through regression, low flow frequency studies and operational
recommendations.
Yemen
Technical support for countrywide water resource
assessment and modelling to support water sector master planning.
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In addition the Principals have also worked
in: Malawi
Assessment of the water resources of the Shire
Highlands and an appraisal of the reliability of flows in the Shire river, for Blantyre
water supply.
Oman
Primary water resource survey of northern Oman
comprising the analysis of rainfall and flood flows and the estimation of long term runoff
and rates of aquifer recharge.
Oman
Review of all water resources surveys to define the
scope for irrigation development including conservation projects and the use of spate
flows in the wadi channels.
Nigeria
Water resources and flood studies for
alternative water supply reservoirs on the Ogun and Ofiki rivers in Oyo state, Nigeria.
Thailand
Study of the impact of deforestation, changes in
cropping pattern, and irrigation and hydropower development in NE Thailand on the
hydrology of the Mekong.
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