El 25 de junio celebramos el cierre con éxito del proyecto RoSPro con un taller nacional celebrado en Nepal. El acto reunió a las principales partes interesadas para reflexionar sobre los resultados positivos del proyecto, como la mejora del acceso al agua de manantial, la resistencia de las carreteras y la participación de la comunidad en la gestión del agua.
Uno de los aspectos más destacados del proyecto fue el sistema de apoyo a la toma de decisiones desarrollado por FutureWater. Este sistema integra datos hidrológicos (como resultado del modelo hidrológico SPHY), geoespaciales y socioeconómicos en una plataforma fácil de usar, lo que permite tomar decisiones basadas en datos para una gestión sostenible del agua. Además, el sistema ofrece una sencilla calculadora de costes y beneficios para ayudar a las partes interesadas a evaluar el potencial de las medidas de gestión propuestas para los manantiales de montaña.
El taller puso de relieve la posibilidad de ampliar el enfoque a otras regiones, utilizando el DSS para orientar los futuros esfuerzos de protección de los manantiales y de gestión de los recursos hídricos. Esperamos continuar con esta labor en el futuro
Una versión de libre acceso del DSS está disponible aquí
Imagen de portada del DSS
FutureWater ha lanzado WE-HARP, una nueva herramienta de apoyo a las decisiones de concesión de licencias de agua en Mozambique. Desarrollada en el marco del programa Blue Deal, la herramienta se presentó durante una formación con ARA-Sul y está diseñada para que el proceso de concesión de permisos se base más en los datos.
En junio de 2025, Tijmen Schults visitó ARA-Sul para apoyar el desarrollo y la puesta en marcha de la herramienta. La iniciativa forma parte del programa Blue Deal Mozambique, cuyo objetivo es mejorar la gestión integrada del agua en toda la región. La herramienta WE-HARP (WEAP-based Hydrological Assessment of water Resource Permitting) está basada en Excel y ofrece una solución práctica para evaluar las solicitudes de permisos. Se creó y probó por primera vez en la cuenca del Umbeluzi, donde se vinculó a un modelo existente de asignación de agua y a la base de datos de usuarios de agua, SIRHAS. La cuenca del Umbeluzi es una cuenca transfronteriza que desempeña un papel crucial en la agricultura y en el abastecimiento de agua del área metropolitana de Maputo.
Se impartió una formación de 2,5 días a expertos en agua y técnicos de ARA-Sul, la autoridad regional del agua del sur de Mozambique. Los participantes conocieron la herramienta y aprendieron a evaluar las solicitudes de permisos utilizando indicadores hidrológicos. La herramienta está diseñada para apoyar las decisiones sobre permisos y reducir la presión sobre recursos hídricos clave, como el embalse de Pequenos Libombos.
Foto de grupoEjercicio en grupoDebate en grupo
La Asamblea General de la Unión Europea de Geociencias (EGU), celebrada del 28 de abril al 4 de mayo de 2025 en el Centro Austria de Viena, reunió a científicos e investigadores de todo el mundo. FutureWater se enorgulleció de formar parte de este evento y presentó sus últimos trabajos como parte del proyecto SOS-water EU Horizon, cuyo objetivo es definir el Espacio Operativo Seguro del agua para las cuencas fluviales europeas.
El miércoles 30 de abril, Tijmen Schults presentó un avance sobre la reducción de la escala de los equivalentes de agua de nieve (SWE). El SWE, un parámetro crítico para la modelización hidrológica, mide la cantidad de agua fundible en un manto de nieve. Tijmen presentó un nuevo modelo que utiliza el algoritmo de aprendizaje automático XGBoost para reducir la escala de los datos ERA5-Land SWE a una resolución más alta, mejorando significativamente la precisión.
La presentación de Schults, que formaba parte de la sesión HS2.1.1 – Hidrología de la nieve y los glaciares, esbozó la configuración del modelo y mostró su impresionante rendimiento. La presentación captó la atención de muchos investigadores y generó interés y debates durante la conferencia.
Presentación sobre la reducción de escala de SWE
A principios de marzo de 2025 se celebró la segunda fase de la formación sobre contabilidad hídrica en el marco del Programa de la FAO sobre Escasez de Agua. La formación se centró en la recopilación y el análisis de datos espaciales para construir y simular una cuenta del agua. Participantes de diversas instituciones gubernamentales trabajaron con conjuntos de datos de código abierto para calcular balances hídricos estacionales y evaluaron la disponibilidad de agua y las intervenciones en la cuenca piloto de Xe Champhone.
Un componente clave de la formación fue el uso de Google Earth Engine (GEE), donde los participantes aprendieron a extraer y procesar datos de precipitaciones, evapotranspiración y uso del suelo obtenidos por teledetección. Estos conjuntos de datos se utilizaron para calcular los componentes de la contabilidad hídrica, incluidas las entradas, salidas, demandas y demandas no satisfechas. En la segunda parte del programa, se presentó a los participantes el modelo de Evaluación y Planificación del Agua (WEAP), que simula el balance hídrico y la dinámica oferta-demanda en cuencas fluviales y sistemas de regadío. Utilizando un modelo tutorial para la cuenca del río Xe Champhone en la provincia de Savannakhet, los participantes exploraron cómo construir y ajustar escenarios para evaluar los impactos potenciales de las proyecciones futuras y las intervenciones políticas o de gestión sobre la disponibilidad, la demanda y el suministro de agua. Estos ejercicios ayudan a los participantes a tomar decisiones informadas y basadas en datos.
Los participantes se mostraron muy motivados para aplicar la contabilidad hídrica en su trabajo diario, y muchos expresaron su interés por un seguimiento institucional. Aunque los ejercicios de formación se centraron en la cuenca del Xe Champhone, los participantes reconocieron el potencial de aplicar enfoques de contabilidad hídrica de forma más amplia. Este impulso puede servir de base para ampliar los esfuerzos en materia de agua en toda la RDP Lao.
Conferencia sobre teledetecciónFoto de grupoConferencia sobre la contabilidad del agua
Estamos mejorando la herramienta WE-HARP: Evaluación Hidrológica basada en WEAP para Permisos de Recursos Hídricos, que conecta la base de datos de permisos con una interfaz para la evaluación de nuevas licencias de aguas superficiales.
To ensure effective implementation, FutureWater will maintain continuous engagement with ARA-Sul, providing technical support and collecting feedback through online sessions. This collaboration will help address challenges in system integration, troubleshoot issues, and refine functionalities. A significant component of this phase is the development of a comprehensive user manual and training materials, including PowerPoint slide decks, to guide ARA-Sul staff in effectively utilizing the tool for water licensing assessments. By embedding the tool within ARA-Sul’s operations, FutureWater aims to enhance decision-making capabilities and streamline the management of water resources in the region.
A consortium of international development finance institutions led by World bank and including Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signaled their intention to support the financing of the project. The climate risk management approach of the ADB aims to reduce risks resulting from climate change to investment projects by identifying climate change risks to project performance in the early stages of project development and incorporating adaptation measures in the design.
For this project FutureWater undertakes work to analyze climate change risk faced by Rogun HPP and the interaction between climate change, climate-responsive HPP operation, and downstream water resource demand as a 2nd phase following initial due diligence of ADB on available project documentation. The detailed tasks entail:
Analyze downscaled CMIP6 General Circulation Model (GCM) to understand projected changes in precipitation and heat trends across climate change scenarios in the Rogun dam catchment area. This includes assessment of indicators for likelihood of heatwave and extreme precipitation events.
Undertake an estimate of the Probable Maximum Flood level in the Rogun dam catchment through event-based simulation modelling factoring in changes to projections for extreme precipitation events and changing hydrological processes due to climate change.
Estimate the likelihood of annual discharge change based on climate change projections to understand the likelihood of Rogun HPP project economics being negatively affected by declining capacity factor driven by climate change impacts on hydrology.
Conduct a first order analysis of present and future glacial lake outburst flood risk based on review of studies from reputable sources.
With the results of this analysis, ADB can update earlier climate risk studies and guide investment decisions.
Last two weeks, the GLOW project held a roadshow through Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa presenting the innovative water management solution GLOW to local stakeholders. By combiningweather forecasts, hydrological, and water resource modelling, together with visualisation tools, the GLOW service addresses transboundary water challenges, enhances water security, and provides actionable water management advice in the transboundary Maputo and Umbuluzi River Basins.
The GLOW team, composed of FutureWater, Hydrologic, and Emanti Management, recently completed a roadshow to present the progress and advancements of the ‘GLObal Water Availability Forecasting Service to Support Water Security’ (GLOW) project. The roadshow demonstrated how GLOW integrates weather forecasts, hydrological, and water resource modelling, together with visualisation tools to address the challenges of water availability and demand in the transboundary Maputo and Umbuluzi River Basins. Piloted with the support of the Partners for Water programme of RVO and Blue Deal Mozambique, the project focuses on scalable solutions that strengthen regional water security and governance.
GLOW addresses challenges in transboundary water resources management, which are increasingly complicated by climate change-driven droughts, flooding, and rising water demands. By integrating hydrological models such as PCR-GLOBWB and the water allocation model WEAP with meteorological forecasts, GLOW delivers accurate forecasts of water availability and demand. These forecasts, ranging from short-term (10 days) to seasonal (6 months), provide stakeholders, including water managers, dam operators, and decision-makers, with early warnings for droughts, floods, and actionable water allocation advisories. Delivered through the HydroNET platform, GLOW’s forecasts are easily accessible via user-friendly dashboards and reporting tools, helping support both operational and strategic water management across the region. The pilot demonstrates GLOW’s potential to improve water management by simulating a variety of user-defined management scenarios, highlighting the system’s role in supporting transboundary water governance and achieving SDGs 2, 6, and 13.
From the inception of the project, GLOW has been developed with involvement from the stakeholders in the Maputo and Umbuluzi River Basins, including the Joint River Basin Authorities (JRBA) of Eswatini, Mozambique’s Regional Administration of Waters in the South (ARA-Sul), National Directorate of Water Resources Management (DNGRH) and South Africa’s Inkomati-Usuthu (IUCMA) and Pongola-Umzimkhulu (PUCMA) Catchment Management Agencies. Through user requirements sessions, the varying needs of these authorities were mapped to ensure that GLOW is tailored to their specific challenges. The recent roadshow served as a platform to present the project’s progress, share key findings, and engage in open discussions about further enhancements. This ongoing dialogue is crucial for ensuring its alignment with the needs of water authorities and maximizing its impact in addressing real-world water security challenges.
Presentation of Evelyn Aparicio MedranoPresentation of Tijmen Schults
Currently, Pakistan’s energy mix consists of 58.8% thermal, 25.8% hydel, 8.6% nuclear, and 6.8% alternative sources, reflecting efforts to diversify from fossil fuels. Pakistan’s installed electricity generation capacity reached 41,557 MW by 2022, with significant growth in transmission line length over the past 5 years. However, the T&D system has not kept pace with the nearly 15,000 MW capacity added during 2017-2021 (ADB, 2024). Despite investments, transmission and distribution losses averaged about 18% over the last 5 years, exceeding the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) 15.3% target. In 2020, 23.7% of generated energy was lost during transmission, distribution, and delivery (ADB, 2024). Notably, transmission and distribution losses exceed 25%, far higher than in comparable countries (GoP, 2017). Therefore, there is an urgent need to upgrade the existing distribution infrastructure to fulfill the energy demands and ensure steady socioeconomic development in the country. ADB will provide financing for four underperforming DISCOs, selected in consultation with the Ministry of Energy: Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), and the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) to:
to upgrade the critical infrastructure of these DISCOs to reduce technical losses.
to implement revenue protection measures to improve collections. Additionally, the project design includes embedded climate resilience and reform measures to enhance institutional capacity and financial sustainability.
These rehabilitation efforts will also take into account and address the growing impacts of climate change in four DISCOs. FutureWater will make use of state-of-the-art downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) ensembles, and other relevant hazards and local information to develop this CRA. Insights from the CRA will be used to devise adaptation strategies. Additionally, FutureWater will be reviewing the existing meteorological monitoring network and recommending additional potential monitoring sites for improved surveillance in the country. To further assist the Government of Pakistan, in actualizing its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) agenda which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of GDP by 50% (compared to the level in 2016), by the year 2030, FutureWater will also develop a GHG account and prepare a Paris Agreement alignment assessment.
FutureWater recently concluded a two-week training program for the Blue Deal partnerships of Mozambique and Eswatini, aimed at enhancing the technical skills of water management professionals from ARA-Sul (Administração Regional de Águas do Sul), ARA-Norte (Administração Regional de Águas do Norte), and the Joint River Basin Authorities (JRBA) from Eswatini. For the training, six water experts travelled to The Netherlands to follow training sessions on a variety of topics related to water management. The collaboration between FutureWater and Blue Deal, funded through the Dutch Water Authorities, was organised to strengthen local capacity in water resource management and transboundary cooperation between the regional institutions.
The training, mostly held at the FutureWater office in Wageningen, focused primarily on applying WEAP (Water Evaluation And Planning), open-source data, tools, and flying sensors for agriculture. Over the past year, multiple WEAP models were co-created by FutureWater together with the local water authorities of Mozambique. For ARA-Norte, a strategic water allocation model for the Monapo River Basin was developed in WEAP. This basin is important for domestic and industrial water supply for Nampula, the third largest city in Mozambique inhabited by close to a million people. The model can be used for long-term planning and decision-making in the basin. For ARA-Sul, two WEAP models were developed. At first, an operational water allocation model was created for the Pequenos Libombos Reservoir, which supplies water to the Maputo City metropolitan and surrounding irrigation schemes. Additionally, a groundwater balance tool was developed for the same area. Both models can be used in assessing requests for water licensing and operational reservoir management and planning. During the training weeks, the water experts were trained in the use of the models and discussions were held on further improvement.
Besides WEAP modelling, the training program featured visits to the Water Boards Rijn & IJssel, and Vallei & Veluwe where firsthand experience was gained in Dutch water management. The training participants visited the control room at the water boards and several hydraulic infrastructure works or projects such as Room for the River. A demonstration day on flying sensors was provided together with our partner HiView providing practical knowledge on the use of drones in mapping floods or agricultural fields. We took the opportunity to hold user validation sessions to further develop the services of the GLObal Water Availability Forecasting Service (GLOW) with Hydrologic. Our collaboration with Blue Deal continues for the coming period.
Drone demonstration in WageningenParticipants with certificatesTraining at FutureWater office
Increasing water scarcity continues to threaten the agricultural sector in Asia. To address this critical issue, FAO and its partners have been developing a comprehensive Asia-Pacific Water Scarcity Programme (WSP) since 2019. The program aims to assess the ongoing issue of water scarcity in the region, evaluate potential management options, and assist partner countries in implementing adaptive management in the agricultural water sector using innovative tools and approaches.
Addressing the issue of water scarcity requires a sound understanding and development of water accounts to ensure evidence-based decision-making for equitable use and allocation of water resources under a changing climate. To achieve this, a comprehensive hands-on training program on water accounting will be developed and implemented across four countries: Indonesia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Thailand. In collaboration with the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), FutureWater will design and deliver the water accounting training program. This program aims to not only improve participants’ understanding of water accounting but also enable them to use modern and innovative tools to develop water accounts, with a particular focus on quantifying linkages between field interventions and basin-scale hydrology.
Participants will work with tools such as REWAS and Follow the Water (developed by FutureWater in collaboration with FAO) to conduct water accounting in agricultural systems at different scales. Through the use of these tools, participants will be able to estimate real water savings at system and basin scales and analyze the impact of different irrigation schemes on the overall water availability in the system. Moreover, participants will also learn how to access and extract remotely sensed datasets to assess the status of the water resources in the Nam Ngum pilot basin.