LowFlows science | LowFlows | LowFlows Enterprise | Flow estimates

The LowFlows software system

LowFlows enables you to estimate the river flows for any river reach within the UK even where measured flow data is not available. This is provided through a geographically orientated software package, which has been widely adopted by the UK regulatory agencies.

The software and underpinning science have been fully published in the scientific literature.

To meet the wider demand in the water industry, the original CEH Low Flows 2000 software has been adapted and enhanced by WHS. It is available in two versions:

• LowFlows
  LowFlows is a functionally rich software system for estimating both natural flow duration statistics and the impacts of water use on these flow statistics. This version requires the user to import an externally derived catchment boundary. LowFlows is widely used by private sector consultancies for a range of purposes, including hydropower resource estimation, abstraction licencing and water quality assessment.

LowFlows is available from our online shop for lease under licence for a period of up to three years. The science continues to be developed and licensees have free access to all upgrades and functional enhancements. Full support and maintenance is provided.

Recognised educational establishments can purchase a spatially restricted version of LowFlows for teaching purposes. This discounted version provides a three year licence and is unsupported.

• LowFlows Enterprise
  LowFlows Enterprise shares many of the features of LowFlows, but additionally incorporates a digital terrain model for automatic catchment definition and a geographically referenced database for storing information describing artificial influences (reservoirs, abstractions and discharges). The system has extensive modelling facilities for evaluating the impact of artificial influences on river flows and how these might vary within a catchment. LowFlows Enterprise is used as a best practice tool for estimating low flows in ungauged catchments by the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and UK water companies.

LowFlows Enterprise will be more suitable for the high volume, or regional user. Please contact us for further information and pricing.

We also offer an efficient natural flow retrieval service for the low volume or inexperienced user.