Development of a conceptual model for assessing future urban water demand and its application to a Quebec municipality
Speaker(s)
Description
How different factors can influence water demand in particular contexts, and what challenges are encountered when modelling demand? This webinar will provide answers to these and other questions.
Summary
It’s essential to study the effects of climate change and other human pressures on water resources in order to be able to monitor changes and act swiftly to protect them. However, sustainable water management is not just about looking at the supply side, but also about assessing demand.
In Quebec, future projections of climate variables, particularly air temperature in certain regions, point to an upward trend, along with population growth. Meanwhile, Quebec’s provincial drinking water conservation strategy encourages reduced consumption while focusing on infrastructure maintenance.
This raises the issue of how such factors can influence water demand in particular contexts, and what challenges are encountered when modelling demand. This webinar will provide answers to these and other questions.
Learning objectives
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Assessment of the impact of climate change on urban water demand;
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Development of an urban water demand projection model for 2025 to 2055 and its application to a Quebec municipality; and
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Assessment of the combined impact of climatic and socio-economic factors on future water demand.
Speaker
Marie-Belle is currently a research associate at Polytechnique Montréal in the civil engineering department. She has just completed her master’s degree in civil engineering research, specializing in water and the environment. Her research project involved developing a simple model to assess future urban water demand in Quebec. After four years of civil engineering education at the Lebanese University, she was awarded a scholarship of excellence to continue her studies in Montréal as part of a double diploma program with Polytechnique.
Marie-Belle’s work focuses on the interdisciplinary aspect of water resources, the use of engineering to serve society and the environment, and sharing knowledge with water resource managers and stakeholders. She is also interested in the impacts of climate change, opting for a participatory, inclusive and integrated approach.
Marie-Belle has been a member of the Canadian Water Network’s Student and Young Professionals Committee, as regional representative for Quebec, where she worked with a team of young experts on a project to share water-saving practices in several Canadian cities. Her three-minute project presentation at the CentrEau Quebec Student Day won the People’s Choice Award in the Water Uses category.
