diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_env.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_env.yml
index fbd74079..ebdcc3a6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_env.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_env.yml
@@ -12,25 +12,29 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       max-parallel: 5
+      matrix:
+        python-version: [ "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-    - uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v2
+    - name: Checkout github repo
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Setup Miniconda
+      uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v3
       with:
         auto-update-conda: true
-        python-version: 3.8
+        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        miniforge-version: latest
     - name: Conda info
       shell: bash -el {0}
       run: conda info
     - name: Install python and gcc
       shell: bash -el {0}
       run: |
-        conda install -c conda-forge python=3.8
         conda install -c conda-forge gcc=12.1.0
     - name: Install gdal and pcraster
       shell: bash -el {0}
       run: |
-        conda install -c conda-forge "gdal<=3.5.3" pcraster
+        conda install -c conda-forge gdal pcraster
     - name: Install dependencies
       shell: bash -el {0}
       run: |
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
index bb8eb5e6..9534759e 100755
--- a/LICENSE
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 European Union Public Licence V. 1.2
 
-EUPL © the European Union 2007, 2016
+EUPL © the European Union 2007, 2026
 
 This European Union Public Licence (the ‘EUPL’) applies to the Work (as
 defined below) which is provided under the terms of this Licence. Any use of
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d8bdd2cb..8f8e62e1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ You can use conda environment to easily install dependencies.
 * Create a conda env named "lisflood" and install dependencies:
 
 ```bash
-conda create --name lisflood python=3.8 -c conda-forge
+conda create --name lisflood "python>=3.10" -c conda-forge
 conda activate lisflood
-conda install -c conda-forge pcraster "gdal<=3.5.3"
+conda install -c conda-forge pcraster gdal
 ```
 
 * Install lisflood-model pypi package
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ git clone --single-branch --branch master https://github.com/ec-jrc/lisflood-cod
 * **Install requirements into a python 3 conda env**
 
 ```bash
-conda create --name lisflood python=3.8 -c conda-forge
+conda create --name lisflood "python>=3.10" -c conda-forge
 conda activate lisflood
-conda install -c conda-forge pcraster "gdal<=3.5.3"
+conda install -c conda-forge pcraster gdal
 cd lisflood-code
 pip install -r requirements.txt
 ```
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index c3ef9b53..564c8f89 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4.3.1.505
\ No newline at end of file
+4.3.1.5052
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/3_step2_installation/index.md b/docs/3_step2_installation/index.md
index 494b7a87..33ba206b 100644
--- a/docs/3_step2_installation/index.md
+++ b/docs/3_step2_installation/index.md
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ Follow this instruction for a basic test (some sample catchments are included in
 2. **Install requirements into a python 3 conda env**
 
 ```bash
-conda create --name lisflood python=3.8 -c conda-forge
+conda create --name lisflood python=3.10 -c conda-forge
 conda activate lisflood
-conda install -c conda-forge pcraster "gdal<=3.5.3"
+conda install -c conda-forge pcraster gdal
 cd lisflood-code
 pip install -r requirements.txt
 ```
diff --git a/envflex.yml b/envflex.yml
index d05b8caf..e48b42e6 100644
--- a/envflex.yml
+++ b/envflex.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: lisflood
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies:
-  - python=3.8
+  - python>=3.10
   - pcraster
-  - gdal<=3.5.3
+  - gdal
   - pip
diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
index aecdb625..46f8a41d 100644
--- a/environment.yml
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -1,262 +1,349 @@
-name: lisflood
+name: lisflood312
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies:
-  - _libgcc_mutex=0.1=conda_forge
-  - _openmp_mutex=4.5=2_gnu
-  - alsa-lib=1.2.8=h166bdaf_0
-  - attr=2.5.1=h166bdaf_1
-  - blosc=1.21.5=hc2324a3_1
-  - boost-cpp=1.74.0=h75c5d50_8
-  - bzip2=1.0.8=h4bc722e_7
-  - c-ares=1.34.4=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - ca-certificates=2025.1.31=hbcca054_0
-  - cairo=1.16.0=ha61ee94_1014
-  - cfitsio=4.1.0=hd9d235c_0
-  - curl=8.1.1=h5eee18b_0
-  - dbus=1.13.6=h5008d03_3
-  - expat=2.6.4=h5888daf_0
-  - fftw=3.3.10=nompi_hf1063bd_110
+  - _openmp_mutex=4.5=20_gnu
+  - alsa-lib=1.2.15.3=hb03c661_0
+  - aws-c-auth=0.10.1=ha62d5e7_3
+  - aws-c-cal=0.9.13=h2c9d079_1
+  - aws-c-common=0.12.6=hb03c661_0
+  - aws-c-compression=0.3.2=h8b1a151_0
+  - aws-c-event-stream=0.7.0=h9b893ba_0
+  - aws-c-http=0.10.13=h4bacb7b_0
+  - aws-c-io=0.26.3=h692f434_1
+  - aws-c-mqtt=0.15.2=hc1936db_2
+  - aws-c-s3=0.12.2=he6ee468_1
+  - aws-c-sdkutils=0.2.4=h8b1a151_4
+  - aws-checksums=0.2.10=h8b1a151_0
+  - aws-crt-cpp=0.38.3=h745e52d_1
+  - aws-sdk-cpp=1.11.747=h41c0014_4
+  - azure-core-cpp=1.16.2=h206d751_0
+  - azure-identity-cpp=1.13.3=hed0cdb0_1
+  - azure-storage-blobs-cpp=12.16.0=hdd73cc9_1
+  - azure-storage-common-cpp=12.12.0=ha7a2c86_1
+  - azure-storage-files-datalake-cpp=12.14.0=h52c5a47_1
+  - blosc=1.21.6=he440d0b_1
+  - bzip2=1.0.8=hda65f42_9
+  - c-ares=1.34.6=hb03c661_0
+  - c-blosc2=3.0.2=hc31b594_0
+  - ca-certificates=2026.4.22=hbd8a1cb_0
+  - cairo=1.18.4=he90730b_1
+  - capnproto=1.4.0=h791c776_0
+  - cfitsio=4.6.4=hab81a10_1
+  - cyrus-sasl=2.1.28=hac629b4_1
+  - dbus=1.16.2=h24cb091_1
+  - fmt=12.1.0=hff5e90c_0
   - font-ttf-dejavu-sans-mono=2.37=hab24e00_0
   - font-ttf-inconsolata=3.000=h77eed37_0
   - font-ttf-source-code-pro=2.038=h77eed37_0
   - font-ttf-ubuntu=0.83=h77eed37_3
-  - fontconfig=2.14.2=h14ed4e7_0
+  - fontconfig=2.17.1=h27c8c51_0
   - fonts-conda-ecosystem=1=0
-  - fonts-conda-forge=1=0
-  - freeglut=3.2.2=h9c3ff4c_1
-  - freetype=2.12.1=h267a509_2
-  - freexl=1.0.6=h166bdaf_1
-  - gdal=3.5.1=py38h5b6c9fa_5
-  - geos=3.11.0=h27087fc_0
-  - geotiff=1.7.1=h4fc65e6_3
-  - gettext=0.23.1=h5888daf_0
-  - gettext-tools=0.23.1=h5888daf_0
+  - fonts-conda-forge=1=hc364b38_1
+  - freeglut=3.2.2=h215f996_4
+  - freexl=2.0.0=h9dce30a_2
+  - fribidi=1.0.16=hb03c661_0
+  - gdal=3.12.4=np2py312h6223463_3
+  - geos=3.14.1=h480dda7_0
   - giflib=5.2.2=hd590300_0
-  - glib=2.80.2=hf974151_0
-  - glib-tools=2.80.2=hb6ce0ca_0
-  - gst-plugins-base=1.21.3=h4243ec0_1
-  - gstreamer=1.21.3=h25f0c4b_1
-  - gstreamer-orc=0.4.41=h17648ed_0
-  - hdf4=4.2.15=h9772cbc_5
-  - hdf5=1.12.2=nompi_h2386368_101
-  - icu=70.1=h27087fc_0
-  - jack=1.9.22=h11f4161_0
-  - jasper=2.0.33=h0ff4b12_1
-  - jpeg=9e=h0b41bf4_3
-  - json-c=0.16=hc379101_0
-  - kealib=1.4.15=ha7026e8_1
-  - krb5=1.19.4=h568e23c_0
+  - glib=2.88.1=hd810c12_2
+  - glib-tools=2.88.1=hee1de02_2
+  - graphite2=1.3.14=hecca717_2
+  - gst-plugins-base=1.26.11=h6d08254_0
+  - gstreamer=1.26.11=h29cf534_0
+  - harfbuzz=14.2.0=h6083320_0
+  - hdf4=4.2.15=h2a13503_7
+  - hdf5=2.1.0=nompi_h87a9417_105
+  - icu=78.3=h33c6efd_0
+  - jasper=4.2.9=h1588d4d_1
+  - json-c=0.18=h6688a6e_0
+  - kealib=1.6.2=h63db1d0_3
+  - keyutils=1.6.3=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - krb5=1.22.2=ha1258a1_0
   - lame=3.100=h166bdaf_1003
-  - lcms2=2.14=h6ed2654_0
-  - ld_impl_linux-64=2.43=h712a8e2_4
-  - lerc=4.0.0=h27087fc_0
-  - libaec=1.1.3=h59595ed_0
-  - libasprintf=0.23.1=h8e693c7_0
-  - libasprintf-devel=0.23.1=h8e693c7_0
-  - libblas=3.9.0=31_h59b9bed_openblas
-  - libcap=2.66=ha37c62d_0
-  - libcblas=3.9.0=31_he106b2a_openblas
-  - libclang=15.0.7=default_h127d8a8_5
-  - libclang13=15.0.7=default_h5d6823c_5
-  - libcups=2.3.3=h3e49a29_2
-  - libcurl=8.1.1=h91b91d3_0
-  - libdap4=3.20.6=hd7c4107_2
-  - libdb=6.2.32=h9c3ff4c_0
-  - libdeflate=1.14=h166bdaf_0
+  - lcms2=2.19.1=h0c24ade_0
+  - ld_impl_linux-64=2.45.1=default_hbd61a6d_102
+  - lerc=4.1.0=hdb68285_0
+  - libabseil=20260107.1=cxx17_h7b12aa8_0
+  - libadbc-driver-manager=1.11.0=hb700be7_0
+  - libaec=1.1.5=h088129d_0
+  - libarchive=3.8.7=gpl_hc2c16d8_101
+  - libblas=3.11.0=7_h4a7cf45_openblas
+  - libbrotlicommon=1.2.0=hb03c661_1
+  - libbrotlidec=1.2.0=hb03c661_1
+  - libbrotlienc=1.2.0=hb03c661_1
+  - libcap=2.77=hd0affe5_1
+  - libcblas=3.11.0=7_h0358290_openblas
+  - libclang-cpp22.1=22.1.5=default_h99862b1_1
+  - libclang13=22.1.5=default_h746c552_1
+  - libcrc32c=1.1.2=h9c3ff4c_0
+  - libcups=2.3.3=h7a8fb5f_6
+  - libcurl=8.20.0=hcf29cc6_0
+  - libdeflate=1.25=h17f619e_0
+  - libdrm=2.4.125=hb03c661_1
   - libedit=3.1.20250104=pl5321h7949ede_0
+  - libegl=1.7.0=ha4b6fd6_2
   - libev=4.33=hd590300_2
-  - libevent=2.1.10=h9b69904_4
-  - libexpat=2.6.4=h5888daf_0
-  - libffi=3.4.6=h2dba641_0
-  - libflac=1.4.3=h59595ed_0
-  - libgcc=14.2.0=h767d61c_2
-  - libgcc-ng=14.2.0=h69a702a_2
-  - libgcrypt=1.11.0=ha770c72_2
-  - libgcrypt-devel=1.11.0=hb9d3cd8_2
-  - libgcrypt-lib=1.11.0=hb9d3cd8_2
-  - libgcrypt-tools=1.11.0=hb9d3cd8_2
-  - libgdal=3.5.1=hc23bfc3_5
-  - libgettextpo=0.23.1=h5888daf_0
-  - libgettextpo-devel=0.23.1=h5888daf_0
-  - libgfortran=14.2.0=h69a702a_2
-  - libgfortran-ng=14.2.0=h69a702a_2
-  - libgfortran5=14.2.0=hf1ad2bd_2
-  - libglib=2.80.2=hf974151_0
-  - libglu=9.0.0=he1b5a44_1001
-  - libgomp=14.2.0=h767d61c_2
-  - libgpg-error=1.51=hbd13f7d_1
-  - libiconv=1.18=h4ce23a2_1
-  - libkml=1.3.0=h01aab08_1016
-  - liblapack=3.9.0=31_h7ac8fdf_openblas
-  - libllvm15=15.0.7=hadd5161_1
-  - libltdl=2.4.3a=h5888daf_0
-  - liblzma=5.6.4=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - liblzma-devel=5.6.4=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - libnetcdf=4.8.1=nompi_h261ec11_106
-  - libnghttp2=1.51.0=hdcd2b5c_0
-  - libnsl=2.0.1=hd590300_0
-  - libogg=1.3.5=h4ab18f5_0
-  - libopenblas=0.3.29=pthreads_h94d23a6_0
-  - libopus=1.3.1=h7f98852_1
-  - libpng=1.6.43=h2797004_0
-  - libpq=14.5=h72a31a5_3
-  - librttopo=1.1.0=hf730bdb_11
-  - libsndfile=1.2.2=hc60ed4a_1
-  - libspatialite=5.0.1=hd36657c_19
-  - libsqlite=3.46.0=hde9e2c9_0
-  - libssh2=1.10.0=haa6b8db_3
-  - libstdcxx=14.2.0=h8f9b012_2
-  - libstdcxx-ng=14.2.0=h4852527_2
-  - libsystemd0=252=h2a991cd_0
-  - libtiff=4.4.0=h82bc61c_5
-  - libtool=2.5.4=h5888daf_0
-  - libudev1=253=h0b41bf4_0
-  - libuuid=2.38.1=h0b41bf4_0
-  - libvorbis=1.3.7=h9c3ff4c_0
-  - libwebp-base=1.5.0=h851e524_0
-  - libxcb=1.13=h7f98852_1004
+  - libevent=2.1.12=hf998b51_1
+  - libexpat=2.8.0=hecca717_0
+  - libffi=3.5.2=h3435931_0
+  - libflac=1.5.0=he200343_1
+  - libfreetype=2.14.3=ha770c72_0
+  - libfreetype6=2.14.3=h73754d4_0
+  - libgcc=15.2.0=he0feb66_19
+  - libgcc-ng=15.2.0=h69a702a_19
+  - libgdal=3.12.4=hfc2019e_3
+  - libgdal-adbc=3.12.4=hb2b9f0d_3
+  - libgdal-core=3.12.4=h08c5dba_3
+  - libgdal-fits=3.12.4=h85ebb52_3
+  - libgdal-grib=3.12.4=h0b51d66_3
+  - libgdal-hdf4=3.12.4=hd9d0baa_3
+  - libgdal-hdf5=3.12.4=h90596a8_3
+  - libgdal-jp2openjpeg=3.12.4=hb2b9f0d_3
+  - libgdal-kea=3.12.4=h90596a8_3
+  - libgdal-netcdf=3.12.4=h86282e7_3
+  - libgdal-pdf=3.12.4=h959df99_3
+  - libgdal-pg=3.12.4=haecd9b2_3
+  - libgdal-postgisraster=3.12.4=haecd9b2_3
+  - libgdal-tiledb=3.12.4=hb2b9f0d_3
+  - libgdal-xls=3.12.4=hb2b9f0d_3
+  - libgfortran=15.2.0=h69a702a_19
+  - libgfortran5=15.2.0=h68bc16d_19
+  - libgl=1.7.0=ha4b6fd6_2
+  - libglib=2.88.1=h0d30a3d_2
+  - libglu=9.0.3=h5888daf_1
+  - libglvnd=1.7.0=ha4b6fd6_2
+  - libglx=1.7.0=ha4b6fd6_2
+  - libgomp=15.2.0=he0feb66_19
+  - libgoogle-cloud=3.3.0=h25dbb67_1
+  - libgoogle-cloud-storage=3.3.0=hdbdcf42_1
+  - libgrpc=1.78.1=h1d1128b_0
+  - libhwy=1.4.0=h10be129_0
+  - libiconv=1.18=h3b78370_2
+  - libjpeg-turbo=3.1.4.1=hb03c661_0
+  - libjxl=0.11.2=h174a0a3_1
+  - libkml=1.3.0=haa4a5bd_1023
+  - liblapack=3.11.0=7_h47877c9_openblas
+  - libllvm22=22.1.5=hf7376ad_1
+  - liblzma=5.8.3=hb03c661_0
+  - libnetcdf=4.10.0=nompi_h3c9b436_104
+  - libnghttp2=1.68.1=h877daf1_0
+  - libnsl=2.0.1=hb9d3cd8_1
+  - libntlm=1.8=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - libogg=1.3.5=hd0c01bc_1
+  - libopenblas=0.3.33=pthreads_h94d23a6_0
+  - libopengl=1.7.0=ha4b6fd6_2
+  - libopentelemetry-cpp=1.26.0=h9692893_0
+  - libopentelemetry-cpp-headers=1.26.0=ha770c72_0
+  - libopus=1.6.1=h280c20c_0
+  - libpciaccess=0.18=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - libpng=1.6.58=h421ea60_0
+  - libpq=18.4=hd5a49e9_0
+  - libprotobuf=6.33.5=h2b00c02_0
+  - libre2-11=2025.11.05=h0dc7533_1
+  - librttopo=1.1.0=h46dd2a8_20
+  - libsndfile=1.2.2=hc7d488a_2
+  - libspatialite=5.1.0=gpl_hab3fe16_120
+  - libsqlite=3.53.1=h0c1763c_0
+  - libssh2=1.11.1=hcf80075_0
+  - libstdcxx=15.2.0=h934c35e_19
+  - libstdcxx-ng=15.2.0=hdf11a46_19
+  - libsystemd0=260.1=h6569c3e_0
+  - libtiff=4.7.1=h9d88235_1
+  - liburing=2.14=hb700be7_0
+  - libuuid=2.42=h5347b49_0
+  - libvorbis=1.3.7=h54a6638_2
+  - libwebp-base=1.6.0=hd42ef1d_0
+  - libxcb=1.17.0=h8a09558_0
   - libxcrypt=4.4.36=hd590300_1
-  - libxkbcommon=1.5.0=h79f4944_1
-  - libxml2=2.10.3=hca2bb57_4
-  - libzip=1.9.2=hc869a4a_1
-  - libzlib=1.2.13=h4ab18f5_6
-  - lz4-c=1.9.4=hcb278e6_0
+  - libxkbcommon=1.13.1=hca5e8e5_0
+  - libxml2=2.15.3=h49c6c72_0
+  - libxml2-16=2.15.3=hca6bf5a_0
+  - libxml2-devel=2.15.3=h49c6c72_0
+  - libxslt=1.1.43=h711ed8c_1
+  - libzip=1.11.2=h6991a6a_0
+  - libzlib=1.3.2=h25fd6f3_2
+  - lz4-c=1.10.0=h5888daf_1
+  - lzo=2.10=h280c20c_1002
+  - minizip=4.2.1=hb71707f_0
   - mpg123=1.32.9=hc50e24c_0
-  - mysql-common=8.0.32=h14678bc_0
-  - mysql-libs=8.0.32=h54cf53e_0
-  - ncurses=6.5=h2d0b736_3
-  - nspr=4.36=h5888daf_0
-  - nss=3.100=hca3bf56_0
-  - numpy=1.24.4=py38h59b608b_0
-  - openjpeg=2.5.0=h7d73246_1
-  - openssl=1.1.1w=hd590300_0
-  - pcraster=4.3.3=py38hae4784f_2
-  - pcre=8.45=h9c3ff4c_0
-  - pcre2=10.43=hcad00b1_0
-  - pip=24.3.1=pyh8b19718_0
-  - pixman=0.44.2=h29eaf8c_0
-  - poppler=22.04.0=h8b295ee_2
+  - muparser=2.3.5=h5888daf_0
+  - ncurses=6.6=hdb14827_0
+  - nlohmann_json=3.12.0=h54a6638_1
+  - nspr=4.38=h29cc59b_0
+  - nss=3.118=h445c969_0
+  - openjpeg=2.5.4=h55fea9a_0
+  - openldap=2.6.13=hbde042b_0
+  - openssl=3.6.2=h35e630c_0
+  - packaging=26.2=pyhc364b38_0
+  - pango=1.56.4=hda50119_1
+  - pcraster=4.4.2=py312hfa6565d_6
+  - pcre2=10.47=haa7fec5_0
+  - pip=26.1.1=pyh8b19718_0
+  - pixman=0.46.4=h54a6638_1
+  - poppler=26.02.0=hfdef1ce_3
   - poppler-data=0.4.12=hd8ed1ab_0
-  - postgresql=14.5=h5bbe9e2_3
-  - proj=9.0.1=h93bde94_1
+  - postgresql=18.4=h3dddfe3_0
+  - proj=9.8.1=he0df7b0_0
+  - prometheus-cpp=1.3.0=ha5d0236_0
   - pthread-stubs=0.4=hb9d3cd8_1002
-  - pulseaudio=16.1=h4ab2085_1
-  - python=3.8.15=h257c98d_0_cpython
-  - python_abi=3.8=5_cp38
-  - qt-main=5.15.6=h7acdfc8_2
-  - readline=8.2=h8c095d6_2
-  - setuptools=75.3.0=pyhd8ed1ab_0
-  - snappy=1.2.1=h8bd8927_1
-  - sqlite=3.46.0=h6d4b2fc_0
-  - tiledb=2.11.3=h1e4a385_1
-  - tk=8.6.13=noxft_h4845f30_101
-  - tzcode=2025a=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - pulseaudio-client=17.0=h9a6aba3_3
+  - python=3.12.13=hd63d673_0_cpython
+  - python_abi=3.12=8_cp312
+  - qt-main=5.15.15=h0c412b5_8
+  - re2=2025.11.05=h5301d42_1
+  - readline=8.3=h853b02a_0
+  - s2n=1.7.2=hc5a330e_1
+  - snappy=1.2.2=h03e3b7b_1
+  - spdlog=1.17.0=hab81395_1
+  - sqlite=3.53.1=hbc0de68_0
+  - tiledb=2.30.1=h8789cd1_7
+  - tk=8.6.13=noxft_h366c992_103
+  - tzcode=2026b=h280c20c_0
   - uriparser=0.9.8=hac33072_0
-  - wheel=0.45.1=pyhd8ed1ab_0
-  - xcb-util=0.4.0=h516909a_0
-  - xcb-util-image=0.4.0=h166bdaf_0
-  - xcb-util-keysyms=0.4.0=h516909a_0
-  - xcb-util-renderutil=0.3.9=h166bdaf_0
-  - xcb-util-wm=0.4.1=h516909a_0
-  - xerces-c=3.2.4=h55805fa_1
-  - xkeyboard-config=2.38=h0b41bf4_0
-  - xorg-fixesproto=5.0=hb9d3cd8_1003
-  - xorg-inputproto=2.3.2=hb9d3cd8_1003
-  - xorg-kbproto=1.0.7=hb9d3cd8_1003
+  - wheel=0.47.0=pyhd8ed1ab_0
+  - xcb-util=0.4.1=h4f16b4b_2
+  - xcb-util-image=0.4.0=hb711507_2
+  - xcb-util-keysyms=0.4.1=hb711507_0
+  - xcb-util-renderutil=0.3.10=hb711507_0
+  - xcb-util-wm=0.4.2=hb711507_0
+  - xerces-c=3.3.0=hd9031aa_1
+  - xkeyboard-config=2.47=hb03c661_0
   - xorg-libice=1.1.2=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - xorg-libsm=1.2.5=he73a12e_0
-  - xorg-libx11=1.8.4=h0b41bf4_0
-  - xorg-libxau=1.0.12=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - xorg-libxdmcp=1.1.5=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - xorg-libxext=1.3.4=h0b41bf4_2
-  - xorg-libxfixes=5.0.3=h7f98852_1004
-  - xorg-libxi=1.7.10=h7f98852_0
-  - xorg-libxrender=0.9.10=h7f98852_1003
-  - xorg-renderproto=0.11.1=hb9d3cd8_1003
-  - xorg-xextproto=7.3.0=hb9d3cd8_1004
-  - xorg-xproto=7.0.31=hb9d3cd8_1008
-  - xz=5.6.4=hbcc6ac9_0
-  - xz-gpl-tools=5.6.4=hbcc6ac9_0
-  - xz-tools=5.6.4=hb9d3cd8_0
-  - zlib=1.2.13=h4ab18f5_6
-  - zstd=1.5.6=ha6fb4c9_0
+  - xorg-libsm=1.2.6=he73a12e_0
+  - xorg-libx11=1.8.13=he1eb515_0
+  - xorg-libxau=1.0.12=hb03c661_1
+  - xorg-libxdamage=1.1.6=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - xorg-libxdmcp=1.1.5=hb03c661_1
+  - xorg-libxext=1.3.7=hb03c661_0
+  - xorg-libxfixes=6.0.2=hb03c661_0
+  - xorg-libxi=1.8.2=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - xorg-libxrender=0.9.12=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - xorg-libxscrnsaver=1.2.4=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - xorg-libxshmfence=1.3.3=hb9d3cd8_0
+  - xorg-libxtst=1.2.5=hb9d3cd8_3
+  - xorg-libxxf86vm=1.1.7=hb03c661_0
+  - zlib=1.3.2=h25fd6f3_2
+  - zlib-ng=2.3.3=hceb46e0_1
+  - zstd=1.5.7=hb78ec9c_6
   - pip:
       - affine==2.4.0
-      - attrs==25.1.0
-      - backports-tarfile==1.2.0
-      - certifi==2025.1.31
-      - cffi==1.17.1
-      - cfgrib==0.9.15.0
-      - cftime==1.6.4.post1
-      - charset-normalizer==3.4.1
-      - click==8.1.8
-      - click-plugins==1.1.1
+      - array-api-compat==1.14.0
+      - attrs==26.1.0
+      - beautifulsoup4==4.14.3
+      - branca==0.8.2
+      - cdsapi==0.7.7
+      - certifi==2026.4.22
+      - cffi==2.0.0
+      - cfgrib==0.9.15.1
+      - cftime==1.6.5
+      - charset-normalizer==3.4.7
+      - click==8.3.3
       - cligj==0.7.2
-      - cloudpickle==3.1.1
-      - coverage==7.6.1
-      - cryptography==44.0.2
-      - dask==2023.5.0
-      - docutils==0.20.1
-      - eccodes==2.40.0
+      - climetlab==0.24.0
+      - cloudpickle==3.1.2
+      - coverage==7.14.0
+      - dask==2026.3.0
+      - deprecation==2.1.0
+      - earthkit-data==0.18.6
+      - earthkit-hydro==1.1.0
+      - earthkit-meteo==0.5.1
+      - earthkit-utils==0.1.2
+      - eccodes==2.47.0
       - eccodes-python==0.9.9
-      - exceptiongroup==1.2.2
-      - findlibs==0.1.0
-      - fsspec==2025.2.0
-      - geographiclib==2.0
+      - eccodeslib==2.46.2.19
+      - eckitlib==2.0.7.19
+      - ecmwf-api-client==1.6.5
+      - ecmwf-datastores-client==0.5.1
+      - ecmwf-opendata==0.3.29
+      - ecmwflibs==0.7.0
+      - entrypoints==0.4
+      - exceptiongroup==1.3.1
+      - filelock==3.29.0
+      - findlibs==0.1.2
+      - flexcache==0.3
+      - flexparser==0.4
+      - fsspec==2026.4.0
+      - future==1.0.0
+      - geographiclib==2.1
+      - geopandas==1.1.3
       - geopy==2.4.1
-      - id==1.5.0
-      - idna==3.10
-      - importlib-metadata==4.13.0
-      - importlib-resources==6.4.5
-      - iniconfig==2.0.0
-      - jaraco-classes==3.4.0
-      - jaraco-context==6.0.1
-      - jaraco-functools==4.1.0
-      - jeepney==0.9.0
-      - keyring==25.5.0
-      - lisflood-utilities==0.12.23
-      - llvmlite==0.41.1
+      - idna==3.15
+      - imageio==2.37.3
+      - importlib-metadata==9.0.0
+      - iniconfig==2.3.0
+      - jinja2==3.1.6
+      - joblib==1.5.3
+      - jsonschema==4.26.0
+      - jsonschema-specifications==2025.9.1
+      - lazy-loader==0.5
+      - lisflood-utilities==1.0.1
+      - llvmlite==0.47.0
       - locket==1.0.0
-      - markdown-it-py==3.0.0
-      - mdurl==0.1.2
-      - more-itertools==10.5.0
-      - netcdf4==1.6.4
-      - nh3==0.2.21
+      - lru-dict==1.4.1
+      - lxml==6.1.0
+      - magics==1.5.8
+      - markdown==3.10.2
+      - markupsafe==3.0.3
+      - more-itertools==11.0.2
+      - multiurl==0.3.7
+      - netcdf4==1.7.4
+      - networkx==3.6.1
       - nine==1.2.0
-      - numba==0.58.1
-      - numexpr==2.8.6
-      - packaging==24.2
-      - pandas==2.0.3
-      - partd==1.4.1
-      - pluggy==1.5.0
-      - pycparser==2.22
-      - pyg2p==3.2.8
-      - pygments==2.19.1
-      - pyparsing==3.1.4
-      - pytest==8.3.5
-      - pytest-cov==5.0.0
-      - pytest-env==1.1.5
-      - pytest-mock==3.14.0
+      - numba==0.65.1
+      - numexpr==2.14.1
+      - numpngw==0.1.4
+      - numpy==2.2.6
+      - odclib==1.6.3.19
+      - pandas==2.3.3
+      - partd==1.4.2
+      - pathlib2==2.3.7.post1
+      - pdbufr==0.14.2
+      - pillow==12.2.0
+      - pint==0.25.3
+      - pkginfo==1.12.1.2
+      - platformdirs==4.9.6
+      - pluggy==1.6.0
+      - py==1.11.0
+      - pycparser==3.0
+      - pyflwdir==0.5.11
+      - pyg2p==3.3.0
+      - pygments==2.20.0
+      - pyodc==1.6.0
+      - pyogrio==0.12.1
+      - pyparsing==3.3.2
+      - pyproj==3.7.2
+      - pytest==9.0.3
+      - pytest-cov==7.1.0
+      - pytest-cover==3.0.0
+      - pytest-coverage==0.0
+      - pytest-env==1.6.0
+      - pytest-mock==3.15.1
       - python-dateutil==2.9.0.post0
-      - pytz==2025.1
-      - pyyaml==6.0.2
-      - rasterio==1.3.11
-      - readme-renderer==43.0
-      - requests==2.32.3
-      - requests-toolbelt==1.0.0
-      - rfc3986==2.0.0
-      - rich==13.9.4
-      - scipy==1.10.1
-      - secretstorage==3.3.3
+      - python-dotenv==1.2.2
+      - pytz==2026.2
+      - pyyaml==6.0.3
+      - rasterio==1.5.0
+      - referencing==0.37.0
+      - requests==2.34.2
+      - rioxarray==0.22.0
+      - rpds-py==0.30.0
+      - scikit-image==0.26.0
+      - scipy==1.17.1
+      - setuptools==81.0.0
+      - shapely==2.1.2
       - six==1.17.0
-      - snuggs==1.4.7
-      - tomli==2.2.1
-      - toolz==1.0.0
-      - twine==6.1.0
-      - typing-extensions==4.12.2
-      - tzdata==2025.1
-      - ujson==5.10.0
-      - urllib3==2.2.3
-      - xarray==2023.1.0
-      - zipp==3.20.2
\ No newline at end of file
+      - soupsieve==2.8.3
+      - termcolor==3.3.0
+      - tifffile==2026.5.2
+      - toml==0.10.2
+      - tomli==2.4.1
+      - toolz==1.1.0
+      - tqdm==4.67.3
+      - typing-extensions==4.15.0
+      - tzdata==2026.2
+      - ujson==5.12.1
+      - urllib3==2.7.0
+      - xarray==2026.4.0
+      - zipp==3.23.1
+prefix: /home/ubuntu/miniforge3/envs/lisflood312
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 40df48ed..36976755 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,20 +4,20 @@ cftime>=1.0.4.2
 coverage>=6.0
 dask>=2021.10.0 
 future>=0.18.0
-GDAL>=3.2.0,<= 3.5.3
-importlib-metadata<5.0.0
+GDAL>=3.12.4
+importlib-metadata>=5.0.0
 iniconfig>=1.1.1
-lisflood-utilities>=0.12.19
+lisflood-utilities>=1.0.1
 llvmlite>=0.37.0
 lxml>=4.6.5
 more-itertools>=7.2.0
-netCDF4>=1.5.3,<=1.6.4
+netCDF4>=1.7.4
 nine>=1.0.0
 numba>=0.54.0
-numexpr>=2.7.0,<=2.8.4
-numpy>=1.21.0
+numexpr>=2.14.1
+numpy>=1.21.0,<2.3
 packaging>=19.2
-pandas>=1,<2
+pandas>=2.3.3
 pathlib2>=2.3.5
 pkginfo>=1.5.0.1
 pluggy>=0.13.0
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f69f1e17..5e24c0ef 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -134,7 +134,9 @@ def _get_gdal_version():
 gdal_version = _get_gdal_version()
 req_file = 'requirements.txt'
 requirements = [l for l in open(req_file).readlines() if l and not l.startswith('#')]
-requirements += ['GDAL=={}'.format(gdal_version)]
+# GDAL requirement is commented to avoid fixing GDAL version in pypi package
+# requirements += ['GDAL=={}'.format(gdal_version)]
+
 setup(
     name='lisflood-model',
     version=version,
diff --git a/src/lisflood/global_modules/add1.py b/src/lisflood/global_modules/add1.py
index 76237671..8929b353 100755
--- a/src/lisflood/global_modules/add1.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/global_modules/add1.py
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ def loadsetclone(name):
         raise LisfloodError("Maskmap: {} is not a valid mask map nor valid coordinates".format(name))
     _ = MaskAttrs(uuid.uuid4())  # init maskattrs
     # convert numpy map to 8bit
-    maskarea = np.bool8(mapnp)
+    maskarea = np.bool(mapnp)
     #check ldd map by maskchkarea map
     maskchkarea = np.logical_not(maskarea)
     _ = MaskAreaInfo(maskchkarea, map_out)  # MaskAreaInfo init here
@@ -520,8 +520,10 @@ def loadmap_base(name, pcr=False, lddflag=False, timestampflag='exact', averagey
                 mapnp[mapnp.mask] = -9999
                 map = numpy2pcr(Nominal, mapnp, -9999)
             elif checkint == "int8":
-                mapnp[mapnp < 0] = -9999
-                map = numpy2pcr(Nominal, mapnp, -9999)
+                mapnp[mapnp < 0] = -99
+                map = numpy2pcr(Nominal, mapnp, -99)
+            elif checkint == "uint8":
+                map = numpy2pcr(Scalar, mapnp, 255)
             else:
                 mapnp[np.isnan(mapnp)] = -9999
                 map = numpy2pcr(Scalar, mapnp, -9999)
diff --git a/src/lisflood/global_modules/netcdf.py b/src/lisflood/global_modules/netcdf.py
index bb7d7cdb..5d08ed19 100644
--- a/src/lisflood/global_modules/netcdf.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/global_modules/netcdf.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def mask_array(data, mask, crop, core_dims, name, valid_min, valid_max, func_x,
                                  exclude_dims=set(core_dims),
                                  output_dtypes=[data.dtype],
                                  output_core_dims=[['z']],
-                                 dask_gufunc_kwargs = dict(output_sizes={'z': n_data}),
+                                 dask_gufunc_kwargs = dict(output_sizes={'z': n_data}, allow_rechunk=True),
                                  kwargs={'mask': mask, 'crop': crop, 'name': name, 
                                          'valid_min': valid_min, 'valid_max': valid_max,
                                          'func_x': func_x, 'func_y':func_y})
diff --git a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/lakes.py b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/lakes.py
index cecd2337..72c4b768 100755
--- a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/lakes.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/lakes.py
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@ def initial(self):
 
         if option['simulateLakes'] and not option['InitLisflood']:            
 
-            self.var.IsStructureKinematic = np.where(LakeSitesC > 0, np.bool8(1), self.var.IsStructureKinematic)
+            self.var.IsStructureKinematic = np.where(LakeSitesC > 0, np.bool(1), self.var.IsStructureKinematic)
             # Add lake locations to structures map (used to modify LddKinematic
             # and to calculate LddStructuresKinematic)
-            self.var.IsStructureChan = np.where(LakeSitesC > 0, np.bool8(1), self.var.IsStructureChan)
+            self.var.IsStructureChan = np.where(LakeSitesC > 0, np.bool(1), self.var.IsStructureChan)
             # Add lake locations to structures map (used to modify LddChan
             # and to calculate LddStructuresChan)
 
diff --git a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/reservoir.py b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/reservoir.py
index 26d0b72a..27d54235 100755
--- a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/reservoir.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/reservoir.py
@@ -114,10 +114,10 @@ def initial(self):
             
             # Add reservoir locations to structures map 
             # (used to modify LddKinematic and to calculate LddStructuresKinematic)
-            self.var.IsStructureKinematic = np.where(self.var.ReservoirSitesC > 0, np.bool8(1), self.var.IsStructureKinematic)
+            self.var.IsStructureKinematic = np.where(self.var.ReservoirSitesC > 0, np.bool(1), self.var.IsStructureKinematic)
             # Add reservoir locations to structures map (used to modify LddKinematic
             # and to calculate LddStructuresKinematic)
-            self.var.IsStructureChan = np.where(self.var.ReservoirSitesC > 0, np.bool8(1), self.var.IsStructureChan)
+            self.var.IsStructureChan = np.where(self.var.ReservoirSitesC > 0, np.bool(1), self.var.IsStructureChan)
             # Add reservoir locations to structures map (used to modify LddChan
             # and to calculate LddStructuresChan)
             
diff --git a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py
index feb2fc7d..c1779c4f 100644
--- a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def initial(self):
         # Calculate inverse, so we can multiply in dynamic (faster than divide)
 
         self.var.IsChannelPcr = boolean(loadmap('Channels', pcr=True))  #pcr
-        self.var.IsChannel = np.bool8(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelPcr))   #bool
+        self.var.IsChannel = np.bool(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelPcr))   #bool
         self.var.IsChannelPcr = boolean(decompress(self.var.IsChannel))       #pcr
         # Identify grid cells containing a river channel
 
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@ def initial(self):
         # Identify channel pixels using kinematic or split routing
         # (identical to IsChannel, unless MCT wave is used, see below)
 
-        self.var.IsStructureChan = np.bool8(maskinfo.in_zero())        #bool
+        self.var.IsStructureChan = np.bool(maskinfo.in_zero())        #bool
         # Initialise map that identifies special inflow/outflow structures (reservoirs, lakes) within the
         # channel routing. Set to (dummy) value of zero modified in reservoirs and lakes functions (if those are used)
 
-        self.var.IsStructureKinematic = np.bool8(maskinfo.in_zero())        #bool
+        self.var.IsStructureKinematic = np.bool(maskinfo.in_zero())        #bool
         # Initialise map that identifies special inflow/outflow structures (reservoirs, lakes) within the
         # kinematic wave channel routing. Set to (dummy) value of zero modified in reservoirs and lakes functions
         # (if those are used)
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def initial(self):
         self.var.AtLastPoint = boolean(pit(self.var.Ldd))    #pcr
         # Assign True to each of the grid cells where there are outlet points
         # Function 'pit' assigns a unique number starting from 1 to pit cells (ldd=5) in the Ldd
-        self.var.AtLastPointC = np.bool8(compressArray(self.var.AtLastPoint)) #np
+        self.var.AtLastPointC = np.bool(compressArray(self.var.AtLastPoint)) #np
 
         lddC = compressArray(self.var.LddChan)     #np
         inAr = decompress(np.arange(maskinfo.info.mapC[0], dtype="int32"))  #pcr
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ def initialMCT(self):
         # even if MCT is active, it should be deactivated if there is no MCT cell in the domain
         if option['MCTRouting']:
             self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr = boolean(loadmap('ChannelsMCT', pcr=True))   #pcr
-            self.var.IsChannelMCT = np.bool8(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr))   #bool
+            self.var.IsChannelMCT = np.bool(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr))   #bool
             if self.var.IsChannelMCT.sum()==0:
                 warnings.warn(LisfloodWarning('There are no MCT grid cell. MCT routing is deactivated'))
                 option['MCTRouting'] = False
@@ -570,11 +570,11 @@ def initialMCT(self):
             self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr = boolean(decompress(self.var.IsChannelMCT))       # pcr
             # Identify channel pixels where Muskingum-Cunge-Todini is used
 
-            self.var.mctmask = np.bool8(pcr2numpy(self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr,0))
+            self.var.mctmask = np.bool(pcr2numpy(self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr,0))
             # Create a mask with cells using MCT
 
             self.var.IsChannelKinematicPcr = (self.var.IsChannelPcr == 1) & (self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr == 0)  #pcr
-            self.var.IsChannelKinematic = np.bool8(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelKinematicPcr))   #np
+            self.var.IsChannelKinematic = np.bool(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelKinematicPcr))   #np
             # Identify channel pixels where Kinematic wave is used instead of MCT
 
             self.var.LddMCT = lddmask(self.var.LddChan, self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr)  #pcr
diff --git a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/soil.py b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/soil.py
index e3233d74..8cd8215e 100644
--- a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/soil.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/soil.py
@@ -324,20 +324,20 @@ def splitlanduse(array1, array2=None, array3=None):
         self.var.Sat1 = self.var.allocateVariableAllVegetation()
         self.var.Sat2 = self.var.allocateVariableAllVegetation()
         '''
-        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero1a = splitlanduse(np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1a[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS1a[0] != 0)),
-                                                   np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1a[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS1a[1] != 0)),
-                                                   np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1a[2] != 0) & (self.var.WS1a[2] != 0)))
-        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero1b = splitlanduse(np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1b[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS1b[0] != 0)),
-                                                   np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1b[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS1b[1] != 0)),
-                                                   np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1b[2] != 0) & (self.var.WS1b[2] != 0)))
-        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero2 = splitlanduse(np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth2[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[0] != 0)),
-                                                  np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth2[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[1] != 0)),
-                                                  np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth2[2] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[2] != 0)))
-
-#        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero1 = [np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS1[0] != 0)),
-#            np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth1[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS1[1] != 0))]
-#        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero2 = [np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth2[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[0] != 0)),
-#            np.bool8((self.var.SoilDepth2[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[1] != 0))]
+        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero1a = splitlanduse(np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1a[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS1a[0] != 0)),
+                                                   np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1a[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS1a[1] != 0)),
+                                                   np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1a[2] != 0) & (self.var.WS1a[2] != 0)))
+        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero1b = splitlanduse(np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1b[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS1b[0] != 0)),
+                                                   np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1b[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS1b[1] != 0)),
+                                                   np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1b[2] != 0) & (self.var.WS1b[2] != 0)))
+        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero2 = splitlanduse(np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth2[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[0] != 0)),
+                                                  np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth2[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[1] != 0)),
+                                                  np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth2[2] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[2] != 0)))
+
+#        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero1 = [np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS1[0] != 0)),
+#            np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth1[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS1[1] != 0))]
+#        self.var.PoreSpaceNotZero2 = [np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth2[0] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[0] != 0)),
+#            np.bool((self.var.SoilDepth2[1] != 0) & (self.var.WS2[1] != 0))]
         # Flag that is Boolean 1 if pixel has (any) soil moisture storage space.
         # Needed to avoid divisions by zero in soil moisture calculations
 
diff --git a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/transmission.py b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/transmission.py
index 8e578ac4..d566f551 100755
--- a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/transmission.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/transmission.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def initial(self):
             # downstream area taking into account for transmission loss
             self.var.UpAreaTrans = loadmap('UpAreaTrans')
             # upstream area
-            self.var.UpTrans = np.where(self.var.UpAreaTrans >= TransArea,np.bool8(1),np.bool8(0))
+            self.var.UpTrans = np.where(self.var.UpAreaTrans >= TransArea,np.bool(1),np.bool(0))
             # Downstream taking into accound for transmission loss
             # if upstream area (the total one) is bigger than a threshold us
             # transmission loss
diff --git a/tests/test_mct_results_slow.py b/tests/test_mct_results_slow.py
index 4a652847..d02bd777 100644
--- a/tests/test_mct_results_slow.py
+++ b/tests/test_mct_results_slow.py
@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ def run_kin(self, date_start, date_end, dtsec, dtsec_chan, type):
         comparator.compare_files(reference, output_tss)
 
         # compare mass balance error
+        # set precision for the mass balance error test
+        atol = 0.0005
+        rtol = 0.008
+        comparator = TSSComparator(atol,rtol)
+
         reference =  os.path.join(out_path_ref, 'mbError.tss')
         output_tss =  os.path.join(self.out_path_run, 'mbError.tss')
         comparator.compare_files(reference, output_tss)
diff --git a/tests/test_results.py b/tests/test_results.py
index e5867b60..f842e356 100644
--- a/tests/test_results.py
+++ b/tests/test_results.py
@@ -189,6 +189,6 @@ def test_waterbalance_daily(self):
 
     def test_waterbalance_6h(self):
         self.run_waterbalance('21600', '02/01/2016 06:00', '02/07/2016 06:00')
-        self.compare_reference('mbError', check='tss', step_length='21600')
+        self.compare_reference('mbError', check='tss', step_length='21600', atol=0.0005, rtol=0.005)
         self.compare_reference('mbErrorSplitRoutingM3', check='tss', step_length='21600')
     
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 50bd36d1..dff913a3 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ def teardown_method(self):
             shutil.rmtree(output_dir)
 
     @classmethod
-    def compare_reference(cls, variable='dis', check='map', step_length='86400'):
+    def compare_reference(cls, variable='dis', check='map', step_length='86400', atol=0.0001, rtol=0.001):
         """
         :param variable: variable to check. Default 'dis' (Discharge)
         :param check: either 'map' or 'tss'. Default 'map'
@@ -331,11 +331,11 @@ def compare_reference(cls, variable='dis', check='map', step_length='86400'):
 
         if check == 'map':
             output_map = os.path.normpath(binding[cls.reference_files[variable]['report_map']]) + '.nc'
-            comparator = NetCDFComparator(settings.maskpath)
+            comparator = NetCDFComparator(settings.maskpath, atol=atol, rtol=rtol)
             comparator.compare_files(reference, output_map)
         elif check == 'tss':
             output_tss = binding[cls.reference_files[variable]['report_tss']]
-            comparator = TSSComparator()
+            comparator = TSSComparator(atol=atol, rtol=rtol)
             comparator.compare_files(reference, output_tss)
         # If there are differences, test fails before reaching this line (AssertionError(s) in comparator methods)
         assert True