Planning for water allocation and water quality using a spreadsheet-based model

An integrated planning activity was undertaken for the Amman-Zarqa Basin in Jordan to account for present and future uses of water resources including reclaimed water. Upgrades to existing wastewater treatment plants mean that new reclaimed water resources will be available in the future. To evaluate the impact of current and potential future uses on basin stakeholders, a spreadsheet-based model was developed to predict water quantity and quality at several key locations. The model consists of a flow component and a water quality component. The model was used to screen various water-use scenarios and to formulate feasible alternatives including the sequencing of future water demands. The use of a spreadsheet model allowed engineers and scientists within the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, and members of the consulting team who had limited modeling experience to be involved in the planning activity.