Water Quality Model Enhanced Ahead of PR24

Published On 14/07/2020

Work to enhance the modelling tool used to target investment to improve river water quality has begun ahead of PR24.

UKWIR is leading work to develop the SAGIS-SIMCAT model, which has been used over successive price review periods to help water companies and the environmental regulators determine the environmental improvement programmes required to ensure that the UK meets the obligations of the Water Framework Directive.

It provides a single model for each river basin helping to pinpoint sources of pollution and identify the most effective interventions to improve water quality, including investment on water company assets and by other sectors operating within the catchment.

Ahead of PR24, the model will be further enhanced to:

• Understand the impact of Brexit on agricultural policy and how this could impact water quality
• Look more closely at the link between improved water quality and overall ecological status of a catchment
• Model the impact of climate change to identify investment required to improve long-term resilience
• Embed the sector share approach so water company customers only pay for investment needed by the water sector to address pollution.

Brian Ellor, Project Manager for UKWIR, said: “The SAGIS-SIMCAT model has been a critical tool in determining the environmental improvements needed within catchments and aiding collaboration between the water industry, regulators and other sectors.

“The work we’ll do to enhance the model ahead of the next price review will mean that it includes the most up-to-date information and enable us to take a longer term view so that we can be sure that the investments we make over the next price review period are the best for the long term; helping us deliver value for money for water customers, while also continuing to improve the environment.”

To find out more about the SAGIS-SIMCAT model please see the attached fact sheet.