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. 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 Eswatini,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

and

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

on the transboundary Inkomati River, in the Conapu Basin in

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

, in the Thuli Basin,

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

, and to model shortages and water allocation in the middle

Heihe River Ejin River (), also Etsin Gol, Ruo Shui () or Ruo He in ancient times, is a major river system of northern China. It flows approximately from its headwaters on the northern Gansu side of the Qilian Mountains north-northeast into the endorheic E ...

in China. * Modelling environmental flow requirements of the

Odzi River The Odzi River is a tributary of the Save River in Zimbabwe. It joins the latter river at Nyanyadzi. It is dammed at Osborne Dam. The Odzani River is a westward-flowing tributary of the Odzi, rising near Penhalonga Penhalonga is mining villa ...

. * Modelling conjunctive use of groundwater and interbasin transfers in the North China Plain * Water quality modelling and mass balance of the Jubones River in

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

and the

Kafue River The Kafue River is the longest river lying wholly within Zambia at about long. Its water is used for irrigation and for hydroelectric power. It is the largest tributary of the Zambezi, and of Zambia's principal rivers, it is the most centra ...

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...

.Mutale, M. 1994. ''Assessment of water resources with the help of water quality''. MSc thesis (unpublished), IHE-Delft, the Netherlands, rep. no. HH180.

References

{{Rivers, streams and springs Computer-aided engineering software Hydrology models

Structure of the Model

Application

See also

References