Model of management and decision support systems in the distribution of water for consumption Case study in North Portugal

The sustainable use of the water is a priority at the planetary level, being, therefore, critical to plan and to manage the water resources on a sustainable basis. The Water Framework Directive aims at regulating and establishing guidelines. With the data spatially collected, two scenarios have been simulated, verifying the hydric availability/need associated to each scenario. Therefore, an increase of the population to be supplied by this basin is to be expected, as well as the glimpse of the water resources in the year 2070, in view of the expected climatic changes. With the data obtained, it is verified that, with the growth of the population to be served, the water availability will not fulfill needs, and with the rainfall decrease over the years more serious results in the hydric availability are signaled, and catastrophic deficits in the hydric balance of this hydrographical basin.