The RTI Center for Water Resources Wins New Contract and Increases International Forecasting Expertise

Secures lead role in India’s extended hydrological prediction project to improve water forecasting and monitoring

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — The RTI Center for Water Resources (CWR) has been awarded a new contract to develop a multi-week hydrologic forecasting solution for three major river basins across India. The CWR will partner with RTI-India, Vassar Labs (Hyderabad, India), and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, NCAR (Boulder, CO) to continue building its international streamflow forecasting expertise.

The Extended Hydrological Prediction project, slated to begin in July 2020, will be implemented with the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation for the Government of India. RTI’s approach will involve testing a range of forecasting approaches and comparing performance against a benchmark using forecast verification techniques. The optimal system will be integrated into a real-time operational dashboard at the CWC, where results will be shared with riparian states in India. 

The extended hydrological prediction forecasts will enable river basin management authorities at each forecast location to make informed, analytical decisions to control floods, improve water allocation among users, reduce drought impacts, and help optimize the use of India’s water resources.

The forecast locations include three major river basins, representing a diverse range of physical, economic, environmental, and social conditions.

• The Yamuna River basin, located in northern India, is a major tributary to the Ganges river and originates from the Yamunotri glacier in the Himalayas. The Yamuna river is a major source of water supply for irrigation and drinking water in Haryana and Delhi, and it also contributes water supply to parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• The Narmada River basin in central India extends over the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh and supports major irrigation, power, and flood control.
• The Cauvery River basin in southern India extends over the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry and is a major source of water supply for irrigation, industry, and many municipalities.

RTI has supported improvements in health, water and sanitation, energy, and the environment in India since 1982. In 2014, RTI established RTI-India, creating a permanent presence in the country to support India in addressing development challenges.

Learn more about the RTI Center for Water Resources.