WARGI: a Tool for Water System Drought Mitigation within EU and National Projects

Even if Mediterranean regions have frequently experienced drought events in last 20 years, the definition of a comprehensive drought management plan with clear objectives and tools is still far to be achieved. Currently, the common response to droughts includes expensive measures to minimize its impacts once the drought occurs instead of a planning strategy to reduce system vulnerability with a set of structural and non structural measures, and to improve the effectiveness of these measures to face drought. Likely, the achievement of a large consensus on a drought plan is the main goal for those responsible for managing the resources in those systems. In our view, the definition and implementation of severe measures in advance is a good way to reduce conflicts among users. Nevertheless, when pre-emptive measures are taken before the drought events the level and the timing of these measures are critical aspects. Computer modeling provides a way of predicting the future behaviour of water systems (Loucks, 1992), and to reach a common understanding and agreement on what should be done when drought occurs.