Integrated water resources management

There is enough water on earth but the problem is its distribution. In one place there is too much and in others too little. Sometimes the water is too polluted. However it will take years to change this situation. Deltares is therefore developing future scenarios and also advising on concrete measures. In other words: which adaptations are necessary today in order to have a good water supply in, for example, 2050?

Increasing demand for water

The world population is still growing and with it is the need for water. The United Nations expects that by 2025 at least 1.8 billion people will not have sufficient water, which will lead to conflicts. We carry out our work against this threatening backdrop. We take an integrated look at all the users and uses of water, e.g. drinking, industry and agriculture, but also recreation and ecological development.

Future scenarios

Deltares explores the future and to do this we develop various scenarios. We research rivers and their basins, bu more importanly, we look at climate change, demography and economic development. In this way we can estimate the future demand for water and the amount then available – taking into account all the interested parties.

Designing strategy

We design measures and combe them into policy strategies. The effectiveness and consequences of these strategies are calculated. To do this we link together various models, such as hydraulic, water distribution and effect models. We also carry out multi-criteria analyses (MCA) to generate a choice between various alternatives.

Sustainable water resources management

On the basis of our knowledge of the water system we advise on concrete measures for responsible and sustainable water resources management. Moreover we take into account the socio-economic situation and the management and institutional environment. Our clients are policy makers both at home and abroad, above all governments and international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Projects

• Climate-proof Freshwater Provision (The Netherlands)
• National Water Plan Mongolia
• Flood Management and Mitigation Programme (Mekong River Commission)
• Sustainable Use of Tropical Peat Indonesia

Related fields of activity

• Renewable Energy from Water and Subsurface