Forecast toolkit for turbidity and rainfall runoff

As part of our comprehensive range of weather and climate services for the water industry, we now offer a ‘Forecast toolkit for turbidity and rainfall runoff’ to help provide a solution to your clean water and catchment management challenges.

Water quality can be directly impacted by intense rainfall events. These rainfall events combined with pre-existing moisture in the ground can cause surface runoff, washing mud and pollutants such as pesticides, fertilisers and slurry from farms into the watercourse. 

 

Save time and money with optimised water treatment planning

Knowing when you can expect higher water turbidity and pollution helps you to plan water treatment and storage, making you cost and time-efficient.   

 

Effective catchment management

Knowing when you can expect an increase in agricultural surface run-off into your water catchment helps you to work alongside farmers and landowners to prevent or reduce contamination. It enables you to advise them when to effectively plan their pesticide, fertiliser and slurry applications.

 

Forecast toolkit for turbidity and rainfall runoff

Using high quality, reliable observations and modelled data, we can support short term planning (14 days) and operational management. Forecasts are available for a point or points at a location, for example, a reservoir or river catchment.  

 

Providing you with:

 • Forecast highest rainfall rate in the day (mm/h) - illustrates the intensity of rainfall, to help understand and anticipate water turbidity levels  

• Forecast Hydrologically Effective Rainfall / Runoff (mm)* - total rainfall minus evapotranspiration, to help understand and anticipate water pollution levels  

• Soil Moisture Deficit (mm)*

• Field Capacity (days)*

• Actual Evaporation (mm)*

 • Potential Evaporation (mm)* 

• Total Rainfall (mm)*

*Forecast MORECS data

 

Benefits of the toolkit for water companies:

• Ensure cost and time-efficient water treatment by avoiding treating during high turbidity and pollution periods

• Plan for and prepare water treatment and storage facilities, chemicals and water purification in anticipation of the treatment

• Prevent or reduce water pollution by working with farmers and landowners, educating and informing them about forecast weather conditions that increase the risk of pollutants runoff

• Ensure social responsibility and public safety by issuing advanced warnings when bathing water pollution can’t be prevented

• Anticipate water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs by forecasting recharge from an effective rainfall or evaporation loss.