WAFLEX

WAFLEX is a spreadsheet-based model. It can be used to analyse upstream-downstream interactions, dam management options and water allocation and development options.

=Structure of the Model=

WAFLEX is set up as a network, where each cell is river reach, demand node or reservoir. Each cell contains a simple formula to add water flowing into it from adjacent cells, and to subtract any demand connected to that cell. The network is set up twice, in demand mode and in supply mode [Savenije, H.H.G., 1995. Spreadsheets: flexible tools for integrated management of water resources in river basins. In: Modelling and Management of Sustainable Basin-scale Water Resources Systems. "IAHS Publications" 231, pp. 207–215.] .

The inputs to WAFLEX are:
* river inflow time series - source area of where the model starts
* demand node time series, e.g. a settlement water supply
* reservoir rule curves and dimensions
* time series from gauges for calibration

The outputs of WAFLEX are:
* time series for specified points on the rivers - these can be calibrated against gauges
* time series of abstractions and shortages for each demand node
* time series of reservoir levels

Code can be readily added to generate the above outputs graphically.

=Application=

WAFLEX has been applied extensively, especially in southern Africa and South America, including for:
* Water allocation: between Swaziland, South Africa and Mozambique on the transboundary Inkomati River [Juízo, D. and Líden, R. 2008. Modeling for transboundary water resources planning and allocation. "Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions", 5, 475-509 [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/papers_in_open_discussion.html] ] [Nkomo, D. and van der Zaag, P. 2004. Equitable water allocation in a heavily committed international catchment area: the case of the Komati Catchment. "Physics and Chemistry of the Earth", 29, 1309–1317. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2004.09.022] ] , in the Conapu Basin in Trinidad [Savenije, H.H.G. 1994. "Water resource management: concepts and tools". IHE-Delft, the Netherlands.] , in the Thuli Basin, Zimbabwe [Khosa, S. 2007. "Evaluating the effect of different water demand scenarios on downstream water availability in Thuli river basin, Zimbabwe". MSc thesis (unpublished), University of Zimbabwe [http://www.bluedocs.org/bluedocs/docs/download/edf3b6a9-ab39-4000-96b2-ed22569ddd76;jsessionid=1uxcsi0d90nlc] ] , and to model shortages and water allocation in the middle Heihe River in China [Junyin, J., Zhenwei, Z. and Weihua, Z. 2005. Drought analysis in middle Heihe River. "Agricultural Science and Technology", 6, 22-28. [http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/qikan/periodical.articles/hnnykjtx-e/hnny2005/0504/050404.htm] ] ..
* Modelling environmental flow requirements of the Odzi River in Zimbabwe [Symphorian, G.R., Madamombe, E. and van der Zaag, P. 2003. Dam operation for environmental water releases; the case of Osborne dam, Save catchment, Zimbabwe. "Physics and Chemistry of the Earth", 28, 985-993. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2003.08.012] ] .
* Modelling conjunctive use of groundwater and interbasin transfers in the North China Plain [Liu, H. 1993. "Water resources planning modelling and application in North China plain". MSc thesis (unpublished), IHE-Delft, the Netherlands, rep. no. HH169.]
* Water quality modelling and mass balance of the Jubones River in Ecuador [Leon, M.L. 1994. "An integrated approach to water resources simulation: the Rio Jubones case". MSc thesis (unpublished), IHE-Delft, the Netherlands, rep. no. HH210.] and the Kafue River in Zambia [Mutale, M. 1994. "Assessment of water resources with the help of water quality". MSc thesis (unpublished), IHE-Delft, the Netherlands, rep. no. HH180.] .

=See also=

*Hydrological transport model

= References=