LAC: Operational water management and forecasting
Flood forecasters, reservoir operators, and operational water managers are often required to make responsible, time-critical decisions based on the most recent observations and forecasts of meteorological and hydrological conditions. These decisions can have significant consequences—for example, initiating evacuations in response to potential flooding.
In Latin America, the importance of such decisions is growing due to:
- The increasing frequency and intensity of weather-related extremes, such as floods and droughts.
- Rising pressure on already stressed water resources, exacerbated by climate change and population growth.
- The growing socio-economic impacts of these extreme events on communities and infrastructure.
To support these challenges, many South American countries have adopted Delft-FEWS, our flexible and modular platform for hydrological forecasting. These systems are customised to local needs, integrating real-time data, predictive models, and decision support tools to empower water authorities with actionable insights.
Examples of the use of Delft-FEWS
In the Yi catchment in Uruguay, the national emergency management agency SINAE used the Delft-FEWS platform to forecast a flood event in Durazno city. The system provided critical information that enabled local emergency authorities to carry out timely evacuations, helping protect residents from the approaching flood.
Similarly, in Colombia, the Environmental Authority of the Cauca Valley (CVC) employs Delft-FEWS to manage its data and information flows, generate hydrological forecasts, and support decision-making for water resource management. The platform plays a key role in ensuring informed and proactive responses to hydrological challenges in the region.
At Deltares, we support water authorities and decision-makers by helping them design, configure, and operationalise customised hydrological forecasting systems based on Delft-FEWS. Our expertise ensures that each system is tailored to local conditions and operational needs.
In addition, we offer comprehensive training and expert consultancy to empower users with the knowledge and skills needed to further develop the system and effectively manage and interpret forecasts—enabling informed, timely, and responsible decisions.
Examples of our work
Flood forecasting and dam optimisation Salto Grande dam (Uruguay/Argentina)
In this project, the inflow forecasting system FEWS-Salto Grande was developed through a close collaboration between Deltares and the hydrology area of CTM Salto Grande. The system integrates a wide range of real-time data and hydrological models, with the primary objective of automating and supporting inflow forecasts to the dam. This enables timely planning of hydropower generation and the implementation of flood mitigation measures when a flood peak is approaching.
A few years after the deployment of FEWS-Salto Grande, a new operational system—FEWS-Piraí—was developed in collaboration with the Environmental Division of CTM Salto Grande. The aim of this system is to manage real-time water quality information, enhancing environmental monitoring and decision-making capabilities. Contact person: Jan Talsma.
FEWS- Uruguay (Uruguay)
A national forecasting system for Uruguay has been developed in collaboration with DINAGUA and the University. The national forecasting system includes national hydro-met data from several institutions in the region, flood forecast for several cities, water quality simulation for the Santa Lucía basin (including main reservoirs) and drought indicators. Contact person: Patricia Trambauer.
Decision Support System (DSS) Cuenca del Plata
Deltares co-designed and implemented an operational forecasting system for the La Plata Basin in collaboration with CIC Plata and the five riparian countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Built on Delft-FEWS, the system integrates real-time measurements, meteorological forecasts, and hydrological models to support basin-wide water management.
It enables data sharing across institutions and provides tools for threshold analysis and drought monitoring. The project fostered regional cooperation and harmonised technical capabilities, contributing to a unified approach to integrated river basin management. Contact person: Jan Talsma.
FEWS-CEMIG: Probabilistic Hydrological Forecasting for Climate Resilience and Energy Planning (Brazil)
To address the growing risks of climate change, particularly extreme events like droughts and floods, Deltares collaborated with CEMIG to develop FEWS-CEMIG—an advanced operational forecasting system based on Delft-FEWS.
The system integrates observed hydrological data and ensemble meteorological forecasts to predict river flows, while also incorporating solar and wind data to support Brazil’s evolving energy planning. By enabling scenario analysis and early warning capabilities, FEWS-CEMIG enhances risk management for hydropower operations and helps protect downstream communities from climate-related impacts. Contact person: Jan Talsma.
