IWRA Proceedings

AbstractIn the near future, drinking water services may undergo many changes (water scarcity, contamination peaks, growing water demand) and it is the role of water utilities to anticipate new water schemes and develop tools to secure drinking water production. The paper will discuss water portfolio management, the concept of managing multiple water resources from storm water to seawater and present the different modelling approaches developed by Veolia R&D as climate change adaptation solutions. One of the most significant developments in water management in recent years has been the increasing focus on integrated water supply planning, including water recycling and demand management. This allows different sources of water to be compared side-by-side with traditional infrastructure solutions. Recognition of the full water cycle means that often- overlooked options, such as wastewater reuse, are given equal opportunity to be assessed on their merits. This advance blurs the traditional boundaries between the supply of water, wastewater and stormwater services to provide what is termed ‘integrated water cycle management’ or water portfolio management as a climate change adaptation solution. In this context, water utilities need management tools to anticipate new situations in water resources availability and to secure drinking water production. Veolia has engaged different research programs on the following tools: - Decision support A first set of tools consists of identifying the best solutions in water resource supply at the local scale by putting into balance traditional resources (surface water, groundwater) and alternative resources (treated waste water reuse, storm water reuse, aquifer recharge, desalination). Firstly, the methodological tool Appr’eau guides the user in characterizing the local context (water policy, resource availability, demand) and the possibility to implement alternative solutions. The second tool is the scenario simulator that models water transfers between water supply systems to re-allocate volumes. A GIS interface helps the user in visualising transfers. - Resource management Multiple and interconnected water resources are complex systems that are very effective for dealing with drinking water production, especially when water quantity and/or quality limitations occur. However, ensuring water supply and water production balance may sometimes be difficult. A quantitative management tool was developed to manage year round production based on "what if" scenarios. - Prediction Global models are largely investigated but there is a lack of local scale modelling of water resources quantitative evolution. Such models are being looked into to predict where and when water scarcity may become a real problem for drinking water production.