Optimizing Reservoir Water Management in a Changing Climate

One of the UN agenda 2030 Sustainable Development goals is associated with water availability and its sustainable management. The present study intends to improve multipurpose reservoir management under climate change scenarios in water scarce regions such as the Mediterranean. Implemented methods include the sequential use of climate model results, hydrological modelling, and reservoir water balance simulation, which are used to estimate future water availability. This work focuses on developing an innovative reservoir management approach based on rule curves and a dynamic assessment of water needs, to improve the management of reservoirs that are dependent on a water transfer system. The proposed methods are implemented in two reservoirs located in a typical Mediterranean river basin and assessed under long-term climate change scenarios up to the year 2100. The results show that the proposed approach can ensure 100% of the urban water supply, improve the reliability of the irrigation supply from 75% to 86-91%, and provide 92-98% of the river ecological flow. It is also demonstrated that this management approach is beneficial, particularly in the case of multipurpose reservoirs in watersheds facing water scarcity risks, to optimize the balance between supply reliability, water transfer volumes, and costs.

Automated summary

This study aims to improve multipurpose reservoir management in water scarce regions like the Mediterranean under climate change scenarios. The methods used include climate model results, hydrological modelling, and reservoir water balance simulation to estimate future water availability. An innovative reservoir management approach based on rule curves and dynamic assessment of water needs is proposed and implemented in two reservoirs in a typical Mediterranean river basin. Results show that this approach can enhance urban water supply reliability to 100%, improve irrigation supply from 75% to 86-91%, and provide 92-98% of river ecological flow. It is beneficial for multipurpose reservoirs facing water scarcity risks to optimize supply reliability, water transfer volumes, and costs.