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Development of a Decision Support System for Drought Management within North West Water |
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| Authors: | SUSAN WALKER BSc PhD CEng MICE P. W. JOWITT BSc PhD CEng MICE A. H. BUNCH BSc DMS CEng MICE |
| Affiliation: | Regional Water Resources Manager, National Rivers Authority (North West Region). Formerly Hydrological Systems Manager, North West Water Ltd.;Professor of Civil Engineering Systems, Heriot Watt University.;Operations Manager (Supply), East Surrey Water plc. Formerly Systems Officer, North West Water Ltd. |
| Abstract: | Whilst droughts, by their nature, are not frequently occurring events, it is essential, for prudent management of water-resources systems, to have analytical tools available for the effective management of the risks to water supplies when such events do occur. Within North West Water Limited, modelling techniques have been developed and applied over a number of years, which allow water-supply managers to be provided with information concerning risks to supply within the Company's water-resources systems. The paper describes how these modelling techniques have been integrated within a decision support system for drought management. Two different approaches have been used. Firstly, enhancement by the implementation of a user-friendly interface and, secondly, the development of a knowledge-based system. The problems and benefits of each approach are discussed. |
| Keywords: | Drought management knowledge-based system risk assessment water-resources system |