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Distributed hydrological models are valuable tools that can be used to support water management in catchments. However, the complexity of management issues, the variety of modelling objectives, and the variable availability of data require a flexible way to customize models and adapt them to each individual problem. Environmental modelling frameworks offer such flexibility; they are designed to build and run integrated models on the basis of reusable and exchangeable components. This paper presents the LIQUID^® framework, developed by Hydrowide since 2005. The purpose of developing LIQUID^® was to provide both easier integration of hydrological processes and preservation of their characteristic temporal and spatial scales. It suits a wide range of applications, both in terms of spatial scales and of process conceptualisations. LIQUID^® is able to synchronize different time steps, to handle irregular …