16 May 2019: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, launched the Dynamic Water Resources Assessment Tool (DWAT) to help water managers understand changes in land use and water availability at the basin level.

The tool was launched at a symposium in the Republic of Korea, which gave examples of its application in Argentina, Bhutan, Jamaica, New Zealand, and the Russian Federation.

DWAT is now available in a beta version online. The tool is currently in a testing and review stage by the WMO Commission for Hydrology and several country partners who are using it in rural, forest and urban catchments.

The tool takes the user through a sequential process of: defining the boundaries of study; high-level review to identify key characteristics of the catchment; collection of data on water use and hydrometeorological, hydro-geological, biophysical, and socioeconomic conditions; analysis of data; building understanding of key catchment processes; long-term simulation of catchment behavior; assessment of available water over the evaluation period; and presentation of results. The DWAT website includes video tutorials on the use of Google maps, basin information and geographic information systems (GIS) data.

Launching the beta version, WMO expressed hope that the tool will support water reform by providing a consistent way to assess water sources, water quality, and the extent and reliability of water resources, and to better understand how water resources are affected by climate change and land use.

SDG target 6.3 seeks to substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater, while SDG target 6.A commits to expanding international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries on a range of water-related activities, including to enhance water efficiency. [WMO Web Page on DWAT] [DWAT User Manual] [WMO Press Release]