MedWater

The basis for “real-time” optimization is a model of the “resource demand system”, which also includes the water requirements of the ecosystems. A transient double-continuum model of the mountain aquifer to simulate the behavior of the groundwater storage will be developed.

To quantify the possible change in water resources as a function of external factors such as land use, climate change, regional water management strategies, or trade of virtual water via food, scenarios will be defined.

The amount of virtual water contained by the the food imported into Israel is quantified. Using the globally parameterised SWAT, not only the water footprint can be modeled, but also the impact of agricultural production on other ecosystem services in exporting countries.

For the multicriteria optimization the verified causal chains will be transferred into transfer functions. The optimization takes into account competing goals such as: ecosystem services and indicators, water trade, biodiversity, water quality, costs, energy consumption and the availability of water resources.

The transfer includes the transfer of results to other areas with good infrastructure and long-term management experience in a regional context (Capodifume and Lez catchment areas) , and secondly the generalization of the indicators and the optimization process as a method.

For the implementation of an event-oriented water resource management, web-based information systems are used as an interface between science and practice. These systems will be available to local stakeholders (water utilities, farmers and agricultural authorities, relevant economic enterprises, etc.).