Report No FR0356

Mar 1993

I BENEFITS

Appreciation of the diversity of approaches to water quality modelling of coasts and estuaries in the United Kingdom.

II OBJECTIVES

The object of this work was to describe the current practice in marine and estuarine water quality modelling in the United Kingdom.

III REASONS

A survey of current practice was required as an interim report prior to the writing of a report setting out a framework for specifying marine and estuarine modelling work in the UK

IV CONCLUSIONS

Rather than specifying a standardised marine or estuarine model it would be better to specify standards for modelling. It is important to choose the right type and complexity of model and to be sure that the right problem is being studied.

V RECOMMENDATIONS

There should be a continuous process of consultation between discharger and regulator beginning at the earliest stage in a modelling study.

Vl RESUME OF CONTENTS

The report describes current practice in marine and estuarine water quality modelling in the UK The principal axes or ways of describing the process are enumerated and then described. Differences and similarities in operational practice over the various regions of the country are considered. A final section concludes that choosing the correct type of model to apply in the first place is more important than specifying the exact details of its operation; for this reason and to ensure that the modelling is carried out in the correct way it is essential that frequent consultation takes place between discharger(s) and regulator(s) from an early date in any modelling study.

Copies of the report are available from FWR, price £15.00, less 20% to FWR Members.