Securing a dry-season water supply
Fictional decision exercise. A fictional region can spend £12 million. Estimates describe annual additional water availability, in million cubic metres. The options are alternatives; do not add their benefits together.
| Option | Capital cost (£ million) | Annual additional availability (Million m³) |
|---|---|---|
| Reservoir | 11 | 8 |
| Leak reduction | 6 | 5 |
| Reuse plant | 9 | 7 |
Options
Reservoir
11
Stores wet-season rainfall
Floods land and depends on reliable inflows
Leak reduction
6
Saves treated water within the existing network
Savings depend on locating and repairing faults
Reuse plant
9
Less dependent on rainfall
Energy use and treatment monitoring continue
Stakeholder evidence
Household representative: Affordable reliable supply comes first.
River association: Low-season flows support wildlife.
Water engineer: Operating costs affect long-term reliability.
Use the resource
Read possible decision reasoning
A strong response can favour any listed option when its priorities and evidence are consistent. Compare costs with the available budget, use the annual additional availability measure accurately, and discuss at least one limitation. Explain why an alternative is less suitable for the stated priority. Estimates do not guarantee outcomes; identify further information needed before a real decision.