Charles Rougé and Geoff Darch - Drought resilience: what are some of water companies’ research needs?

This presentation presents the outcomes of my Embedded Researcher experience with the Water Resources Team at water company Anglian Water Services. The project sought to explore how both operational improvements and long-term planning could improve drought resilience, in particular through the use of seasonal weather forecasts. Project outcomes include a new methodology to better quantify the relationship between the quality of a forecast and its value to water managers. Beyond that, the identification of research gaps that also correspond to technical gaps for the partner led to two successful follow-up funding proposals that will keep the collaboration alive for the next few years. One project focuses on incorporating climate-induced risks to reservoir water quality in long-term planning. The other will build the modelling tools to quantify the impacts of the energy transition on water resource systems, and to suggest drought- and climate-resilient infrastructure investments that will also be well-adapted to future energy systems.

Charles Rougé is a Lecturer in Water Engineering at the University of Sheffield. His research means to find adaptation solutions for water and water-energy systems stretched by climate change impacts as well as socio-economic and technological disruptions. He develops new modelling frameworks and analysis techniques to ensure that adaptation solutions are based on a holistic understanding of these systems and the threats they face.

Geoff Darch is Head of Supply Demand Strategy at Anglian Water, responsible for supply and demand forecasting, associated investment planning, water trading and the development of new resource options. Geoff is a guest lecturer at the Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, and sits on several climate change working groups including at CIWEM and BSI. He is co-founder of the Analysis under Uncertainty for Decision Makers network (http://au4dmnetworks.co.uk/).

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