Thursday, december 13 2012

Publication of the statistical analysis of low-flows in Wallonia

Maïté FOURNIER (EPAMA) | Selection of common hydrologic scenarios

Now, low flows and droughts are more and more recognised as risk situations due to the huge consequences of water shortage. Furthermore, climate change constitutes a new threat, even though the uncertainty about the evolution of low-flows remains high.
Moreover, being able to estimate low flows at any point of a river is really important nowadays for a good integrated management of rivers. Indeed, low flow estimates are needed in projects related, for example, to the construction of hydroelectric dams, the conservation of aquatic habitats, water abstraction licensing, discharge management, commercial navigation or the management of bathing areas.
It becomes essential to know the magnitude as well as the frequency of such extreme events. The frequency actually indicates the severity of low flow events. And, in case of droughts, different measures to maintain a minimum flow in rivers are usually taken by the environmental department of the Government according to this severity (e.g. “Plan d’Action Sécheresse” in France, drought plans in the UK).
In Wallonia, low flows have never been studied in details, and no method exists to estimate them. Therefore, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (University of Liège) aims at filling this knowledge gap.