Water Supply and Water Sources
We assess available water supply options for a property or project, considering the source, location, capacity, surrounding conditions and expected water demand.
Water supply begins with knowing where the water will come from
Before selecting a solution, it is essential to identify existing sources, estimate project water demand and understand the technical and geographic conditions that may affect their use. An available source is only useful if it can adequately meet the identified needs.
Not every property has the same options
Water may come from existing distribution networks, wells, springs, surface water, rainwater harvesting or other alternatives. Each option's availability depends on the particular site and project conditions.
The source must meet expected consumption
Water requirements depend on the project's intended use, scale, occupancy and characteristics. Estimating demand allows the actual requirements to be compared with the potential capacity of each available source.
The presence of water does not guarantee supply
A source may exist yet have limitations involving flow rate, reliability, access, seasonal variation or conditions for lawful use. Its capacity must therefore be assessed in the project's specific context.
Location also shapes the solution
Property location, topography, distance to the source, hydrogeological conditions, drainage, existing infrastructure and surrounding land conditions can affect the feasibility of each option.
Water supply depends on the relationship between availability and demand
Assessing a water source means more than locating it. It requires determining whether the source can provide the required amount of water under the conditions in which it would be used.
This relationship helps rule out unsuitable alternatives, identify promising options for further investigation and determine which technical studies may be required before proceeding.
Finding water is not the same as securing a reliable supply.An appropriate solution must match source characteristics with water demand, site conditions and the project's actual requirements.
Where can a project obtain its water?
A property may have one or several possible water sources. Each source's suitability depends on availability, location, capacity, reliability and how well it meets the project's needs.
Water distribution networks
Where water supply infrastructure is available nearby, we assess its relationship to the property and whether it can serve as the primary supply before considering additional options.
Wells
Wells provide access to groundwater stored in and moving through the subsurface. Their feasibility depends on hydrogeological conditions, the available abstraction works and the demand to be met.
Springs
A spring may provide water when its location, discharge and continuity are suitable. Assessment should also consider its relationship to the hydrogeological system and immediate surroundings.
Rivers, streams and other surface water sources
Watercourses and bodies of water can be supply options where sufficient water is available and site conditions allow technically feasible use.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainfall can be collected and stored for certain uses, reducing demand on other sources. Its potential depends on rainfall patterns, catchment area, storage capacity and intended use.
Combining different sources
Some projects may benefit from combining sources, using each according to its availability, required water quality, seasonality or type of demand to create a more adaptable supply system.
The nearest source is not always the most suitable
A supply alternative should be considered within the project's overall system rather than solely on the physical presence of water on or near the property.
We compare available options against demand, source characteristics and the technical and geographic conditions that may govern their use.
No single water source is suitable for every project.The solution depends on the available alternatives, the amount of water required and the particular conditions under which each source can be used.
From water needs to a supply option
We assess water supply as an integrated system. First, we determine how much water a project needs and what sources may be available. We then examine their characteristics to identify which options warrant further study.
Understand the requirement
We review the project type, intended uses, occupancy or associated activities and other relevant information to estimate the water demand the supply solution must meet.
Assess available sources
We identify existing networks, wells, springs, surface water, rainwater harvesting opportunities and other relevant alternatives based on site conditions.
Determine the next steps
We compare alternatives and identify the additional information, technical studies or administrative procedures that may be needed before developing a supply solution.
Compare options first; investigate further only where necessary
Not every potential source needs the same level of investigation at the outset. An initial review can eliminate less viable options and focus studies on alternatives with greater potential.
This allows technical investigation to focus on specific questions: availability, capacity, continuity, location, demand and the conditions required for potential use.
Can the source provide the water required?
We review available information about the source and determine what studies may be required to better understand its capacity and behavior.
Is the location compatible with the project?
We consider the spatial relationship between the source and the property, topography, access, ground conditions and other factors that could affect its use.
What must we verify before proceeding?
Depending on the option, hydrogeological assessments, flow measurements, source analyses, additional investigations or subsequent institutional procedures may be required.
Assessing first makes investigations more effective.Our goal is to identify the most promising options and focus technical studies on the information needed to determine supply feasibility.
Address water supply at the earliest project decisions
Water availability can determine a project's scale, location and feasibility. Assessing alternatives early helps identify constraints, compare solutions and decide what investigations are needed before moving forward.
Determine what water supply options exist
When a property lacks a clear supply solution, we assess potential nearby sources and the conditions that must be verified to determine which alternatives may be viable.
Match projected demand with the available source
Before fully defining a residential, commercial, tourism or other development, it is important to establish whether the available alternatives can meet projected water demand.
Assess whether the current source can meet increased demand
Greater occupancy, infrastructure or activity may significantly change water consumption. We review whether the existing source remains adequate or whether supplementary alternatives should be considered.
Understand water needs beyond routine consumption
Agricultural, commercial, tourism and other productive activities may have specific water requirements. Identifying these needs helps assess a source under the project's actual operating conditions.
Assess more than one potential source
When several supply options exist, we compare availability, continuity, location, additional investigation requirements and their relationship to demand to guide the selection of a suitable alternative.
Integrate different sources into a single strategy
A primary source may be supplemented by other options for particular uses or seasons. Rainwater harvesting, for example, may form part of an integrated supply strategy.
Water supply should be assessed before the project depends on it
Addressing supply too late can require revisiting decisions already made. Water availability should therefore be included in the initial assessment of a property or development.
Early assessment clarifies what is known, what remains to be verified and which option warrants more detailed technical investigation.
Water supply is part of project feasibility.Early analysis identifies alternatives, anticipates necessary investigations and helps avoid relying on a source whose capacity or conditions have not yet been verified.
The source determines what needs to be investigated
Once a supply option has been identified, its capacity, behavior and relationship to project demand may need to be verified. The required study depends on the source type and the information still needed.
Source and Demand Assessment
Compares source characteristics with projected project needs to determine whether the option warrants further evaluation and what additional information may be required.
View Source and Demand AssessmentRiver and Spring Flow Measurements
Measures the discharge of a surface water source or spring under specific conditions and provides direct information for comparing availability against project requirements.
View River and Spring Flow MeasurementsHydrogeological Study
Where groundwater is the intended supply, this study helps interpret aquifer units, water levels, flow conditions and the hydrogeological setting relevant to abstraction.
View Hydrogeological StudyPumping Test
For existing groundwater abstraction works, a pumping test helps observe the response of a well and aquifer during extraction, providing information about their behavior under operating conditions.
View Pumping TestNot every alternative requires the same study
A spring, river and well are different systems. Investigations must therefore be tailored to the source under evaluation and the question the project needs to answer.
In some cases, comparing supply and demand is enough. In others, flow measurements, aquifer investigations or evaluation of an existing abstraction system may be necessary.
Identify the source first, then the study.Technical investigations should address a specific supply alternative and provide the information needed to decide whether it can proceed to the next project stages.
Need to determine how to supply water to your project?
We can review the property's location, projected water needs and available options to identify which sources warrant closer assessment and what the next technical steps should be.