List of hydrological and water quality models
- The text on this page is taken from an equivalent page of the IEHIAS-project.
This table below lists a number of widely used models of flow and water quality in streams, groundwaters and water distribution systems. Listed models are generally simple to medium level ones, that can be applied at broad scales (e.g. catchment-regional) and in the context of limited data. Many of these models have been developed for specific environments, so their application in other contexts needs to be done with care. The principles of the models also need to be understood, and collaboration with experts in the relevant fields is recommended.
Links to a range of other (mainly US-based) models are also available via the sites listed under See also.
| Model | Type | Description | Access | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topmodel | Stream hydrology | Physically based, distributed watershed model that simulates overland flow, saturation infiltration, exfiltration, subsurface flow, evapotranspiration, and channel routing in a water basin. | Free | Lancaster University |
| Mike II | Stream hydrology | Advanced, watershed model that simulates runoff and stream hydrology; can be linked to range of other modelling systems (see Mike-SHE below) | Purchase | DHI |
| SHETRAN | Stream hydrology and water quality | Flexible, 3-D finite difference model, designed to simulate flow, and sediment and contaminant transfer in stream catchments. | Free (limited version) | Newcastle University |
| HSPF | Stream hydrology and water quality | Integrated modelling system to simulate runoff and water quality (e.g. nutrients, pesticide, sediments) from agricultural and urban sources. | Free | US-EPA |
| AGNPS | Stream hydrology and water quality | Modeling system to estimate pollution loads from agricultural watersheds; simulates surface water runoff, nutrients, sediments, chemical oxygen demand, and pesticides from point and nonpoint sources of agricultural pollution. | Free | USDA |
| INCA | Stream water quality | Suite of flow, water quality and ecological models, designed to simulate dynamics and instream biogeochemical and hydrological processes in stream systems; used to assess a wide range of environmental change issues including land use change, climate change and changing pollutant loads. | By request | Reading University |
| SPARROW | Stream water quality | Non-linear, regression-based model for estimating and prediicting pollutant concentration and transport, on basis of monitored concentration data and information on catchment characteristics. | Free (requires SAS) | USGS |
| QUAL2K | Stream water quality | Ecologically-focused model that simulates daily water quality, as either steady-state or dynamic system. Includes estimation of biological oxygen demand, nitrogen, phosphorus, coliforms and pH. | Free | US-EP |
| Modflow | Groundwater hydrology and geochemistry | Suite of models providing capability to simulate groundwater recharge and flow and solute transport. | Free | USGS |
| Mike-SHE | Steam and groundwater hydrology and water quality | Advanced, integrated modelling system for simulating hydrological processes in linked surface and groundwater systems, including evapotranspiration, runoff, discharge, groundwater recharge and environmental fate of contaminants. | Purchase | DHI |
| EPANET | Drinking water systems | Network model for simulating hydraulics in water distribution systems, and movement and fate of reactive and non-reactive materials within the system (e.g. disinfection by-products). | Free | US-EPA |