Adequacy of Surface Water‐Supply Systems: Case Study

Abstract

Water‐supply planners and managers must continually evaluate the ability of surface water sources to meet current and future demands of public water‐supply systems they serve. Water demand changes over time, increasing with population growth and industrial development. However, continuing sedimentation in surface water reservoirs reduces their capacities and expected future yields. A method has been developed to calculate future reservoir capacity losses due to the sedimentation process. The method allows for consolidation or compaction of sediment constituents with time. Mitigatory measures for increasing the availability of water to deficient systems are investigated. These measures for maintaining adequate, reliable water supplies are devised to achieve optimal use of water resources with minimal adverse impacts on stream and riverine ecology. All surface water‐supply systems in Illinois are investigated with respect to their future demands, yields of their water sources, any present and future inadequacies for specified drought frequencies, and feasible and economical mitigatory measures.