IQQM—A hydrologic modelling tool for water resource and salinity management

Abstract

A generic integrated water quantity and quality simulation model (IQQM) has been implemented in several regulated river systems in New South Wales, Australia, for water resources management planning. IQQM will eventually comprise four main components: an instream water quantity module, an instream water quality module, a rainfall-runoff/pollutant generation module and a groundwater quantity and quality module, although the pollutant generation and groundwater components are currently being developed. IQQM is designed to provide more reliable information relating to issues such as environmental flows and water quality than was possible with the monthly simulation models that have been used for water resource management planning studies in NSW for almost 20 years. One of the river systems for which IQQM is being implemented is the upper Hunter. One of the main roles for the Hunter IQQM will be to investigate options for managing salinity in the Hunter River. Implementation of IQQM Hunter has involved a multiple step calibration process. A description of the model is presented, and the multiple step process of calibration described. The results of model calibration are presented and the quality of calibration discussed.