CHALLENGES IN WATER RESOURCES SYSTEMS OPERATION

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CHALLENGES IN WATER RESOURCES SYSTEMS OPERATION

• 1 July 2004
• B Mwaka
• Water Resources Planning Systems User Forum No.
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Contents

• Sub-directorate Systems Operation and its
  functions
• Need for Operating rules - requirements from the
  NWA (1998)
• Example of water variation at Kwena Dam
• Objectives of operating rules
• Phases/Challenges of water resources developments
• Achievements by Operating Rules
• Benchmarks Early Warning Systems for
  stakeholder
• Modelling Challenges

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The Sub-directorate Systems Operation
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Need for operating rules Requirements from the
National Water Act, 1998
Regulations on use of water to consider
promotion of economic and sustainable use of the
water (Sec 26(4), NWA)
The public need to be informed of risks posed due
to anticipated droughts, floods and water
pollution occurrences (Sec 145, NWA)

• CMAs/WUAs may temporarily control, limit or
  prohibit use of water (Schedule 3, Sec 6), and
  provide the following information
• Geographical area or water resources affected
• Reason for restrictions
• Date of commencement of measures
• Actual extent of water shortage
• Likely effect of shortage on water users
• Strategic importance or priority of water use

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Objectives of Operating Rules

• Documentation for standards, transferability and
  test for efficiency of performance
• Regulate availability of water for
  re-distribution as per demands especially during
  drought conditions
• Flood control for dam safety and mitigation of
  flood damage

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Water storage circle on a developed system
INPUT
FSL
Floods

• Desirable
• Controllable
• Measurable

Wet season
Dry season
DSL
Drought
OUTPUT

• Desirable
• Controllable
• Measurable

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Challenges due to developments
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Regular (Annual) Operating Analyses

• Derive annual operating rules
• Optimise operation to enhance efficient use of
  the available water resource
• Planned/informed curtailment for equitable and
  sustainable water supply
• Demonstration of impacts of WCDM, EWR, water
  wastage etc
• Indicate if and when resource will reach its
  limit

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Modeling Challenges

• Meet operating requirements for
• Accurate data monitoring/recording
• Conflict of interests among stakeholders
• Uncertainty in water demand/availability
  projections in the long term
• Communication formats/channels
• Decision Support Systems

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New requirements for tools in support of
Stakeholders

• Need to be more user-friendly interactive
• Data storage and sharing capabilities
• Easy to maintain and update
• Allow scenario testing
• Transparency
• Equitable participation