Sustainable Water: Uncertainty, Risk and Vulnerability in Europe

SWURVE Case Studies

Case Study 1

Surface Water Reservoir System

This Case Study is based on a major regional water supply system in North West England, which experienced a drought in 1995-96 that was the most severe in the historic record. Its management presented a significant challenge to both the water utility company and the regulating agency, which controls 3500 abstraction licenses in the region. Because of the severity of the drought it has been necessary to review the assumptions which form the basis of existing water resources plans for the region. A clear strategy will be needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the water resources of the region to the benefit of public water supplies, the environment and other water users.

The Case Study will consider long term variability in rainfall in key supply areas, with particular reference to weather patterns which cause drought in more than one area simultaneously, in order to assess the system reliability and vulnerability to possible changes in weather pattern frequencies.

An existing water resource model will be used, which is operated by the regulating agency, which is already collaborating with the Team leader on a scoping study for this application. Additionally, the water utility company will be involved with testing of new strategies and scenarios for future operations. This will particularly related to new demand predictions, with an overlap in Case Study 8, on a salmon river which lies within the region.

<< Back to Case Studies

• Case Study 1 Surface water reservoir system
• Case Study 2 Combined sewer overflows
• Case Study 3 Lake regulation operations
• Case Study 4 Hydropower operation
• Case Study 5 Transboundary river basins
• Case Study 6 Public water supply
• Case Study 7 Rhine discharges
• Case Study 8 Ecological impacts of climate variability