Halcrow has won the key UKWIR Water Resources Planning Tools Project WR27, which will help shape the vision of UK water resources management over the next decade.
Working on behalf of United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR), which is supported by the Environment Agency and Ofwat, Halcrow will refine tools which water companies will use to produce the statutory water resources management plans for the UK in 2014.
Halcrow will also evaluate new methods for use in 2019 and beyond. These methods will respond to specific longer term planning needs, such as the need for new forms of economic appraisal and the need to develop reliable and resilient water systems in the face of uncertainty and climate change.
The refined tools will include methodologies, guidelines and modelling approaches. They will be used to help ensure that water resources planning effort is proportionate to needs and responsive to new drivers such as the need to reflect the value of water in ensuring a balance between human and environmental water needs.
Halcrow will provide the core technical leadership and project management, ensuring that the project outputs are well integrated.
Halcrow’s global water security business leader, Richard Harpin said: “The win is clear recognition of Halcrow’s good understanding of the key water resources planning issues facing the UK water industry and will further Halcrow’s standing in this field."
The project is aligned to Halcrow’s water security strategy and will be undertaken with specialist assistance from ICS Consulting, Imperial College and the University of Exeter’s Centre for Water Systems.
Work will begin on the contract at the end of March 2011 and continue until 31 March 2012.