Environmental flow estimation using hydrological and hydraulic methods for the Quindío River basin: WEAP as a support tool

Abstract

In the Quindío river basin, there are different uses of water which, in some dry periods of the year, threaten aquatic ecosystems. This project sought to estimate an environmental flow regime for the Quindío river basin. Different hydrologic and hydraulic methods were implemented; the 7Q10, Q95, IDEAM, Q97.5, and Q90 are highlighted. Users concerned with the results of this research are: the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Quindío (CRQ), the public utility companies of water and sewage, and scholarly communities and researchers related to the study of water resources. In conclusion, the Q95 method allows obtaining environmental flow regimes on a monthly basis capable of adapting to the hydrological variability of the natural regime.

Keywords

• Environmental Flow
• Hydrologic Methods
• Hydraulic Methods
• Natural Flow Regime
• Hydrological Restitution
• Water Resource
• Rainfall-Runoff Model
• WEAP