Water flow quantity improvement

General description

With the exception of flow regulation by dams and local effects of stormwater runoff, alterations in stream flow regimes are the result of cumulative impacts to the watershed. Therefore, restoration of stream flow usually requires a watershed-scale land restoration and management strategy. In highly urbanized areas and in stream reaches with water regulated by active dams, it may be impossible to restore the flow regime to pre-disturbance conditions. However, strategies can be employed to mitigate the impacts of existing infrastructure and to minimize or eliminate the impacts of future development.

The measures on water quantityFor improve the quantity of water flow, something in common for all the measures is that water demand should be reduced, or alternative mechanisms for water regeneration should be implemented (water renewal and recycling, improve water retention and storage). Reductions on surface or groundwater extractions are specific ways to reduce water consumption. All together contributes to increase minimum flows, and improve the natural regulation of the hydrologic cycle.